14-21 May 2022

Leader: Dave Cox

Captain James Cook charted the New Zealand Coast as part of his 1768-1771 expedition to observe the transit of Venus across the Sun. He named this island Great Barrier in 1769 for the shelter and protection it provides to the Hauraki Gulf from the Pacific Ocean.

From the 1840s, the Island's natural resources – in particular minerals and kauri trees - attracted European settlement.

The island holds a special place in Māori traditional history. Spectacular pā and other archaeological sites survive throughout the island, evidence of its long Māori history. Māori named the island Aotea (white cloud).

With over 20 formed tracks over mountains, through gorges, along old timber mill trails, through remnant forests, past natural hot springs and waterfalls, above jagged coastlines and along beaches, there is something for everyone on this island.

While it is very accessible from Auckland (we took a thirty-five minute flight) the feel is entirely different – casual, relaxed, rural. We based ourselves in Tryphena Bay which had a lovely beach, a view of the Coromandel Peninsular, a great café, a social club serving evening meals and (most importantly) an Irish pub.

On the first full day we split into two groups. One group walked from Windy Canyon over Mt Hobson to the hot springs while another group went to Whangaparapara and walked to the old timber mill site, later joining the others for a soak in the hot pools.

The Okiwi-Harataonga coastal walkway is not to be missed. We completed this on the second day including a detour down to a beach for lunch which allowed some to enjoy a swim. Some of us then walked along an isolated beach to visit one of the SS Wairarapa gravesites.

A variety of trails begin near Port Fitzroy and we explored these on the third day. Some did a loop past Kaiaraara Hut through Line W track, deviating down to see Bush Beach, while others did shorter, local walks.

Day four saw us back at Whangaparapara with morning walks to the old mill site and the waterfall on the timber trail. After lunch some did the white cliffs (Te Ahumata) climb, with spectacular views, while others indulged in a round of golf at the island golf club.

The fifth day dawned overcast and rain was forecast and so it was declared a “rest” day.

Being very Parawai this involved a three hour walk along the Kowhai Valley loop to Medlands Beach. However, there was still time to relax in the afternoon, visiting the various small, quirky museums and shops in Claris.

How did our final day arrive so quickly? Some walked from Windy Canyon over Mt Hobson to Mt Heale Hut and returned the same way (anybody who enjoys climbing up and down steps would be in their element on this walk). Others began the timber trail and found the terrain steep and dangerous, particularly after the previous day’s rain, and so they returned the way they had come and, instead, explored the southern end of the island and met some lovely locals.

What a wonderful week with a stunning variety of tramps in great company.

To top it all off the pilot on our return flight to Auckland took us on a scenic detour over Waiheke which enabled us to begin scoping the walking options on that island… watch this space.

Those on the trip were:

Dave Cox, Jing Zhou, Lyndsay Fletcher, Michele Coghlan, Paul Michl, Penny Currier, Sue Pate, Sue Sparkes, Susan Robertson, Wei Wu, Eleanor Currier, Shally Webb