It was beautiful clear day that promised to heat up nicely when we set out from Moonshine Park. We were walking a track that hadn’t been on our trip list for around 10 years. I had checked it out on the weekend. We walked over the road bridge and then went through an underpass below River Road to pop out on the entry road to Riverstone Terraces. From here we turned right onto a slightly obscured gravel track and wandered through a fairy dell set in the bush beside the Hutt River. The track undulated through some lovely bush and around a slightly tricky culvert. Another 5 minutes of bush and we were going down some newly created steps. Last time I walked here it had been a steep track down to the river. Then it was along the river for a period before re-entering bush and climbing up to the houses you can see from the River Road which look like they are perched on a cliff. We stopped here for a group photo and quick drink before following the much wider track around the boundaries of these house. From here we turned down another tack leading down to the bridge crossing the Whakatikei River. Another chance for a photo stop before following quite a wide track around to the horse paddocks. We followed along beside these arriving at Awakairangi Park just before noon in time for lunch. It was here I found two members of our party had turned back to collect a pole. From this point we became quite split up as some needed to get back by 1pm. So, we did the final part of the walk following the Hutt River for 5 kms back to our cars in groups of 3 or 4.  This did take away the plan for a group cuppa, but most were a little footsore and preferred to go home. We had walked around 10 kms in total.

The members I have spoken to since did say how much they enjoyed the walk and expressed a desire to do this one again.

Lead - Judith O’Leary

Walkers: Sharon, Trisha, Angela, Linda, Sheila, Jane, Anna, Lorraine, Helena, Stephanie R, Christine, Lesley, Brenda, Anne-Mette and Telas.