Nice early kick off for a 8km walk around Cape Foulwind walking track that takes you to Tauranga Bay
It was a pleasant walk on a well groomed track, the fact that the weather was more easterly meant the track was sheltered from the forecasted wind although they were light anyway.
The track appeared to have a lot of ups and downs as it gradually descended from the height of Cape Foulwind down to Tauranga Bay however overall it was mainly down hill. The views were as expected awesome.
Once reaching Tauranga Bay we choose to return via the Kawatiri Cycle Trail that was slightly shorter although mainly uphill back to Cape Foulwind which we knew also had a love native bush section to finish on. On the way up the return walk Jude was keen to get a pic of the Paparoa Ranges that we had seen on the bike ride the previous day… what a difference a day make ls as they had disappeared behind cloud…. But that’s Mother Nature.
After a good brunch we decided we need to checkout Charleston where we intended to do that end of the trail before leaving Westport. What a lovely little nowhere don’t blink or you’ll miss it place. An amazing history of life in the 1800s and the hardships that the pioneers endured (as most did back then) the little hidden bays, like Constant Bay, the risks and tragedies that occurred will leave you admiring the hardness and courage (borderline stupidity) that was considered normal and acceptable in that period. Constant Bay with its narrow entrance of about 50m – 60m wide, passengers and cargo were transferred by long boats that were manned by highly skilled surf boatman, but still cost many lives as boats would often overturn in the surf bringing passengers in and out of the bay. The ancestors were a tough breed.. there was no room for weakness back then.
Constant Bay entrance… deadly as.
After Constant Bay we made our way along Hands Road which follows the Kawatiri Trail passed Little Bay and along the coastline before the trail leads up into the bush which was as far as we could take Jimny.
Little Beach is a pebble beach where the Waitakere River or Nile River flows out and we had heard you could still find the odd piece of pounamu (Greenstone)…. However not our lucky day… maybe because we didn’t know what greenstone looked like in it natural form anyway 😂🤣👍🏽
A great day and time to head home to our Moho at Cape Foulwind.
Tomorrow the cape Foulwind to Westport section of the Kawatiri Trail.