Twelve walkers joined me for this walk on Sunday 1 September. We met at Discovery School and fittingly, being the first day of spring, we first had a look at the daffodils outside the school. They were not at their best having been battered by a storm the day before, but still a cheery site. After a group photo we headed up the track to Spinnaker Lookout which provides a great view over Whitby and Pauatahanui Inlet. We then followed the track to Mercury Way where we walked down the street for a while before picking up another walkway which took us to Leeward Drive, where after a couple of hundred metres of footpath walking, we headed up the 100+ steps back up to the vicinity of the Lookout. We carried on past and picked up another walkway, the wide sealed path that passes through a lot of Whitby. The next challenge was heading up the zigzag path to The Yardarm which got most of us puffing, so had a well-deserved rest at my house for a snack and a sit in the sun. Refreshed, we headed down Ayton Drive and up to the Rex Green lookout and over to the third lookout, Quarterdeck, for a final view of the inlet, then it was down Meridian Way and back to the cars, having walked for just over 3 hours. Those who had the time then enjoyed a coffee at Niche Café in Whitby Village.

Lead: Sharon Dunstan