Twelve of us set out from the carpark at the end of Coast Road in Wainuiomata. It was lovely to see Mark out again and meet his family and friend. We had a cool but calm day, so nice after all the wind we had experienced during the week. We took our group photo at the start beside a historic bridge over the Orongoronga River before following the road to the turnoff to walk along the coast. It took just under an hour to reach Turakirae Head where we stopped for morning tea and did a spot of seal watching. They were some distance away and rather hard to spot. Then if was off along the 4-wheel drive track for another hour before we reached Barney’s Whare. The track involved a couple of small stream crossings but there were stepping stones. The road hugged the bottom of the hills more than following the coast, although we did get some lovely views. The vegetation had grown a bit since our last visit. Sue pointed out the site of an old Pa to me which had a number of trees planted there. Amazing to think this road was once the main route between Wellington and the Wairarapa and was used to drive cattle between the two areas until the Remutuka Hill Road was opened. We saw evidence of the wild horses that live along this coast but no horses themselves. Janice and Sue did spot one up a hill on the way back. We enjoyed a lovely lunch break at the clearing surrounding Barney’s Hut, but the picnic table was broken, so most of us sat on the grass. It was a lovely walk followed by a refreshing cuppa at California Garden Centre afterwards. We needed it after walking over 14kms on gravel roads and tracks.

Judith O’Leary