Out of Waipu then through DOC's Brynderwyn walkway where we met Anette and Tom at the Trig Point, a couple from Auckland away for the weekend at their bach in Mangawhai Heads (first people we have met tramping since Ninety Mile Beach). We walked back to the car park with them and then on our own again picked up a farm track to the Mangawhai Cliffs walkway. Stayed with Annette and Tom for the night as they had so kindly invited us and had an awesome roast chook for tea. thanks guys!. The following day we beach walked all the way to Pakiri and stayed at the campground there - only 2 others besides us, all the Aucklanders gone home after the long weekend. Had been a very wet afternoon but cleared up enough to put the tent up quickly. The follow
ing day was another wet arse day into Matakana from the Tamahunga track. Matakana is quite a posh town with designer shops and a very expensive supermarket and we looked right out of place in our designer mud splattered rain gear. Headed up the Dome Whaiwhui Forest where we camped the night and the follo
wing day met Jim and his wife at the Dome Forest Cafe who said that he had had a couple come through 3 weeks ago doing the Teararoa trail from the USA. We suggested he make a Teararoa hikers board at the cafe which he has done - awesome! Various trails into Moirs Hill Forest then into Puhoi where we had a 3 hour wait due to the tides and a lovely pub lunch before canoeing the Puhoi River down to Wenderholm Regional Park. Its not possible to walk this section as is SH (motorway) so the 8km paddle was a nice change. Decided to camp at the Park for the night before heading out the next day for a walk all the way r
ound the coast to Whangaparoa where Gunter (an avid Teararoa supporter) took us across the Weiti River in his little boat so we could walk the Okura Track then round on the North Shore Coastal Walkway from Long Bay all the way to Devonport and as it was low tide we were able to walk on the beach and round the rocks pretty much all the way. Awesome coastal walk! - Took the ferry from Devonport and we are now resting up in Auckland for a few days.Birds seen: New Zeland Terns (protected) and Kakariki parrots
.jpg)
