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NewsMAKARA WALKWAY
15 DECEMBER It was a perfect
Wellington day. Five trampers set off from Greytown, keen to fit some R &
R into our pre Christmas schedules. We met up with three others at Makara
beach at 9.30. We started along
the coastal walk, then up onto hilly farmland, following the track to the
summit. Great views of the turbines, blue-green sea and the South Island. We reached the gun
bunkers, three concrete buildings only now, fenced off and desolate. From
this spot we did the short loop walk to B2, the only turbine accessible to
the public. Here we found Stan stretched out under the turbine getting some
excellent photo shots. The B2 turbines are enormous white structures and
generate enough electricity for about 71,000 homes. And they do make a whining
noise! Here six of us
left on the Opau loop, a 5.5 km walk through beech trees and great views of
coastline and turbines. Helen and Wayne took the downwards track to meet us
later. After lunch we all
continued along the coastal track, another 3.3 km of flat pebbles and lots of
driftwood, and arrived at Makara Beach settlement about 3.00 to a very
welcome coffee at the local café. A great day enjoyed by all. Helen Morison, Juliet and Ed Cooke, Mary
Lambert, Stan Smith, Kay and David Bowie, Angela Kelly from Masterton, Wayne
Hodgson and myself, Margaret Tonkes.
OTARI WALK 22
DECEMBER. At last we got a
fine enough day to do this tramp which we had planned for early in the year.
We left Greytown at 8am, and met at Otari at 9.15. The entrance way is really
inviting with native gardens and water features. A walk along the tree canopy
path led us down to the Troup clearing where we began the uphill walk to the
800 year old rimu tree. We had missed the turn but back tracked. A good spot
for a cuppa. We followed this same track up to the pine plantation where we could
see part of the old Karori cemetery. The signs are a little misleading so
Barry, Stan and Bruce continued on this track and we went on the Kohekohe
track, which lead us to meet up at the 4WD track that leads to Churton Park.
We had lunch on a clearing with a lovely vista, over Wadestown and towards
Somes Island. We veered right and this lead us back to the colour coded
tracks that are part of Otari, through the flax clearing and back to the
Troup lawn. The drizzle cleared for our tramp and it was quite pleasant with
a bit of cloud cover. We were back at
the cars and ready for the trip home by 1.30pm, arriving in Greytown in
plenty of time to prepare food for our Christmas gathering, held at Bruce
Eglington’s. Thank you Bruce for such a lovely evening. We welcomed
Theresa Fawdray to our group and we hope to see her on many more of our
tramps. Trampers were Ian and Rosie, Stan, Bruce and Mary,
Barry and Lynne, and Theresa.. |
