waitahinga trails, january 22nd 2023

Al, Rae, Wietze, Justine and Jan enjoyed a great day out doing the Waitahinga Trails, inland from Kai Iwi. Leaving Hawera at 8.45 we were at Quarry car park by 10.10, beginning our walk along Okehu Ridge. We agreed early on the walk some of us didn’t have enough in the tank to go to the Dam, and Croppers clearing would be the destination for all but Al, who shot on ahead. The rest of us got to Croppers in just over an hour. Rae and Justine walked a short way along Tom’s Ridge but didn’t fancy an uphill return. We set off back on the Rimu walk, meeting Al on his return journey who agreed the return journey was a grind. We took the Pines track back to the car park, a loop journey of 3 hours. It felt like a “real” tramp, no structures, natural tracks, sometimes gnarly and all the time having to keep a watch for markers. And a great walk for a sunny summer day, under bush cover most of the walk.