Six of us gathered at the Kowhai St entrance and started an immediate uphill walk. This track is a bit of a gut buster to start off with and includes lots of very evenly graded steps. The track is well walked and kept in amazing condition. We were glad of the breezy weather conditions which kept us cool as we made our way up. We were also spoiled with a number of viewpoints. It was time for a quick drink when we got to the crossroads for the Bus Barn Track and the one leading down to Butterfly Creek. The track now descended into beautiful bush and remained that way as it zigzagged down to the bottom of the valley. Once again, I was impressed with the number of new steps and grooming of the track. Then it was across the stream via a bridge to our morning tea stop. We had a group photo before climbing back up the hill and this time took the Bus Barn Track back to the bottom. I sort of lost my group here as I am quite slow descending and also stopped to talk to a local group of possum trappers. I was told they had been manning the area for 20 years and were hoping for another 4 captures soon to take their haul up to 1080. This was to prove you can get results without using this poison. I continued on my way and caught up with the group at our lunch spot on the beach. Liz and Ethan went on their way and the rest of us enjoyed lunch. It was really pleasant sitting there munching on my salad. Then it was a short walk down the road to the car and into the village for a cuppa before heading home. We had covered a distance 9.2 kms on this walk.

Judith O’Leary