"We started our first Sunday walk of the year with a hiss and a roar and went up the very steep Parata Track in the Hemi Matenga Reserve at the back of Waikanae. This Reserve has one of the largest stands of Kohekohe Forest left in NZ and the walk is under native bush for most of the way.  The walk is very steep for the first hour and when we reached the top a vote was taken as to whether to carry on to the viewing platform another half and hour away.  Everyone decided they did want to so we carried on in the bush.  It was a good track and well signposted with orange arrows, there were quite a few people at the clearing.  We stopped for a snack and then made our descent back.

We came down off the hill in good time and had coffee at the Olive Grove cafe.

Trip Leader – Jeannine Muir

Walkers - Lynn, Delphine, Andrea, Sue B, Anna, Nicola and Owen, Mark and Helen, Peter P, Judith and Sue and Rob.  It was a good challenge to start the year off.