August-September 2023

TRIP REPORTS: August - September 2023

3 September 2023 - Eastern Reserves

After an introduction by Gilbert, today's leader, 29 members disembarked the bus at Glover Park and made their way to the Waitara Road entrance to Churchill Park (named after Winston Churchill when the park was created in 1945). The park is currently a small working farm and as well as open pasture, it offers areas of bush and woodland.

Churchill Park

A prominent landmark in the area is the St Heliers Water Tower, built on a tuff ring formed from the nearby volcanic explosion. The water tower was constructed in 1936 and is still owned and operated by Watercare.

Our morning tea stop was at Roberta Reserve – adjacent cafes were certainly a drawcard, and there was plenty of seating overlooking a very busy playground.

Continuing our walk across Roberta Reserve, we headed towards Tohuna Torea Reserve.

Tahuna Torea includes a long sand bank which extends out into the Tāmaki Estuary. It also has a tidal lagoon with mangrove scrub, freshwater wetlands and regenerating native forest and scrub. The area provides a mix of marine, intertidal, freshwater and terrestrial habitats.

Tahuna Torea Reserve

Gilbert addressing the group.

On the way, Gilbert took the opportunity to relay some of the key points about Tohuna Torea. He also asked us if we knew why the “cabbage tree” (Cordyline australis) had that name. Nobody had the answer! Gilbert explained It was named by Captain Cook as he discovered that the shoots, once cooked, tasted like cabbage! The leaves were used in rope, clothing, thatching and baskets. And, it also had many medicinal uses.

Cabbage Tree (Cordyline australis)

Tahuna Torea Nature Reserve (“the gathering place of the oyster catchers”), certainly offered prolific birdlife. A few that we saw – grey warbler, white-faced heron, cormorants, royal spoonbills, paradise ducks, pied stilts, oystercatchers, pukekos and even black swan cygnets.

We walked out to the end of the sandspit before retracing our steps along the lagoon walk and the bank of the estuary to Wai O Taiki Nature Reserve. This smaller reserve also offered great estuary views, plenty of birdlife and a great mixture of exotic and native bush.

Our next destination, the 41ha Point England Reserve. It stretches along the Tamaki river and it encompasses varied landscapes, including bird nesting grounds and farmland. It also includes facilities such as the Glen Innes Community Pool and Recreation Centre, plus BBQ areas and picnic tables. The perfect spot for us to stop for lunch!

The walkway runs along the length of the reserve and will become part of the 11km Tamaki Loop that is currently being developed.

It was at this point we realised the wind was picking up and the clouds were rolling in. It was time to pick up the pace!

From here, it was a good wide path to our final destination where the bus was waiting at the Panmure Yacht and Boating.

Gilbert, Jenny and Dawn put a great day together for us - many, many thanks!

Text: Linda
Photos: Barbara and Linda

6 August 2023 - Scandrett Regional Park

Our luck was in; calm sunny weather, the ranger was able to meet us to open Scandrett Homestead and our trusty driver Oki managed to navigate the bad road conditions without any mishaps. It certainly had been a wise decision to change at Warkworth from our usual big bus to a smaller one more suitable to the conditions encountered.

On reaching our destination the group dispersed to investigate the homestead and the restored farm buildings, the contents of which reflected the difficulties of farming, in such a then remote region in the past. For the interested walkers several information panels could be read to enlighten them on life in and around Scandrett Homestead.

Morning tea to restore energy levels was enjoyed at the picnic tables nearby before we set off on our walk. On such a clear day the track to Mullet Point lived up to the words used in the park brochure of “ expansive sparkling waters.” This being the translation from the Māori word Purahurawai. From Mullet Point we climbed up the hill to a suitable resting place where Sandra read out some interesting history of the area. We then ascended to the ridgeline and could appreciate from the view what an advantageous position it would have been for Māori during their time of occupation.

Walking on undemanding terrain, through a grove of mature pohutukawa along the ridge, we took time to admire large, well nourished native pigeons( kererū) and numerous fantails (pīwakawaka.) Fiona read out some further information about the fantails to add to what we already know.

The Mullet Point Track joined the Scandrett Bay Track giving a downhill path to the beach at the bay. On the way it was delightful to see the lambs gamboling in the sunshine and at the beach to see the mullet thrashing in the water while sea birds dived after them. Here our keen photographers managed to capture shots of oyster catchers and dotterels too without disturbing them.

Lunch was eaten in the peaceful and tranquil surroundings of the beach and grassy stretch behind it.

Before leaving the park, Sandra passed on to us some more detailed history relating to the Scandrett family and their homestead, all of which helped us appreciate our day at the park even more.

We took in a quick visit to Highfield Garden Reserve on the way home. The sweeping views dotted with islands and several short walks in the reserve make it a pleasant place to wander if you have the time. We set off to find the resident donkeys but at first they were quite elusive, lurking at the back of their paddock down by the road entrance. Eventually a hungry one slowly approached the group and munched happily on the apples and carrots offered.

As a few raindrops started to patter down it was time to walk back up the hill to the bus and head home.

Many thanks to Fiona and Sandra, our leaders, for a stunning day.
Text: Fiona Photos: Catherine, Shona, Sue.