7 of us set out on a glorious winter morning from the Education Centre in Queen Elizabeth Park and walked the road down to the beach. From here we followed the beach in a very light breeze towards Paekakariki. It was such a clear day that Mana Island was quite visible in the distance. We came off the beach and had a quick break before following the Wainui stream to the main Inland track. This turned into the Yankee Trail, named for the US Marines who used this trail between 1942 and 1943 to walk from their camp to Paekakariki. We deviated around what used to be a wetland and now seems to be part of a stream instead. Most of what was water is now grass. We came out along the area used for horse eventing (we were lucky it was midweek – so no training or events) and followed near the Dune Swamp area before coming out at the Education Centre again.

We finished up with a cuppa at Paekakariki. It had been a lovely day out.

Lead - Judith O’Leary

Walkers: Denise, Mark, Christine, Sharon, Telas and Christina