We were blessed with beautiful weather on this walk through what had been the Wainuiomata Recreational Area which is now a Regional Park. We started off on the Gums Loop, turned onto the Nikau Track which is an out and back, then followed the Gums Loop to the Tana Umaga Track turnoff. This portion of the track is a real gut buster, hence the name after one of Wainuiomata’s most famous All Blacks. From here it was through the pretty bush of the Sledge Track before coming back out by the swing bridge and old homestead. We then followed the road up to the Lower Dam which is a wildlife reserve. We had lunch before exploring the area and then returned to our cars via the road. This is a really pleasant walk (apart from good old Tana Umaga) in a variety of surrounds. The tracks are all well maintained and the dam a lovely place to go for a picnic.

Kathy told us there was a Mega Mitre 10 in Wainuiomata which had opened last year, so we trooped down there for a coffee.

Trip Leader – Judith

Walkers – Kathy, Gordon, Helen, Mark, Anne-Mette, and Prue