Trip Reports: October - December 2025 Click on images to enlarge.
9 November 2025 - Waikumete Cemetery and Henderson Park
Our walk through Waikumete Cemetery and Henderson Park was a walk with a difference.
To be able to manage the distance we travelled by bus to various points of interest, after stopping to pick up Noeline from the Friends of Waikumete.
To be able to manage the distance we travelled by bus to various points of interest, after stopping to pick up Noeline from the Friends of Waikumete.
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Their focus is on maintaining the integrity of the historic areas of Waikumete Cemetery, restoring significant monuments and cleaning graves. We were able to complete a series of diverse walks through the cemetery which is 108 hectares and the largest cemetery in New Zealand. Established in 1886, its location was chosen for its proximity to the railway line.
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The cemetery is laid out by denomination, and includes significant features like the Erebus Memorial, a Memorial to the 1918 New Zealand Influenza Epidemic victims, memorials to service personal from the two World Wars, an area for paupers, stillborn babies and recently added natural burial area.
Noeline was able to bring alive the stories of the people who lie in the cemetery and share with us the history of Auckland. Some stories were inspirational and some sad, with realisation that while this is a cemetery there is also a celebration of life. Several members of The Friends met us at the Chapel of Faith in the Oaks and shared social stories of how the cemetery developed and grew, the stories of genealogy within the grounds and the amazing array of naturalised plants.
Noeline was able to bring alive the stories of the people who lie in the cemetery and share with us the history of Auckland. Some stories were inspirational and some sad, with realisation that while this is a cemetery there is also a celebration of life. Several members of The Friends met us at the Chapel of Faith in the Oaks and shared social stories of how the cemetery developed and grew, the stories of genealogy within the grounds and the amazing array of naturalised plants.
The older areas of the cemetery were alive with historic vegetation and wildflowers, some planned and some around graves in the heritage areas which have become naturalised. A wild flower sanctuary was set aside in the South Eastern corner of the cemetery in 1993. The most significant vegetation is the gumland heath ecosystem which is characterised by low scrub which runs through the middle of the cemetery.
Waikumete Cemetery was full of life, of people, of stories and an ever-changing landscape.
Waikumete Cemetery was full of life, of people, of stories and an ever-changing landscape.
After lunch we again boarded the bus to visit Henderson Park by which time the weather had changed and we set off in the rain to walk alongside the Opanuku Stream.
Since early 2000 there had been an extensive riparian planting programme and we walked along under the shelter of many mature trees before deciding to turn back as the rain became much heavier.
It was interesting to see the body of water in the Opanuku Stream grow in volume and noise as the smaller feeder streams from the Waitakere Ranges fed into the larger stream and we were a sodden lot for the bus trip home.
A "different" and very interesting day!
Special thanks to the team:
Sandra T & Sue B., with assistance from Robyn and Jan E.
Text: Robyn Photos: Robyn, Valerie & Linda.
Since early 2000 there had been an extensive riparian planting programme and we walked along under the shelter of many mature trees before deciding to turn back as the rain became much heavier.
It was interesting to see the body of water in the Opanuku Stream grow in volume and noise as the smaller feeder streams from the Waitakere Ranges fed into the larger stream and we were a sodden lot for the bus trip home.
A "different" and very interesting day!
Special thanks to the team:
Sandra T & Sue B., with assistance from Robyn and Jan E.
Text: Robyn Photos: Robyn, Valerie & Linda.
26 October 2025 - Port Waikato, Maraetai Bay, Harker Reserve, Les Batkin Reserve
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The 50 walkers who joined this walk on Labour weekend Sunday not only got four walks in one day, but four seasons in one day! However, we were lucky it only rained twice – once while we were having morning tea and again at lunchtime!! We arrived at Port Waikato to grey skies, rolling waves and very windy conditions, but some would say we saw the beach at its moody best. |
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The devastating erosion was clear for all to see and we heard something of the recently-announced steps to protect the foreshore. If you are interested in further information about this, please check out the Port Waikato Coastal Hazards document produced by the Waikato District Council. |
A short bus ride later and we were at Maraetai Bay for another beach walk to view the sand dunes and the mouth of the Waikato River. A few got slightly wet feet as the incoming tide moved more quickly than anticipated by the leaders!
Next stop was Harkers Reserve, part of the QEII National Trust, where everyone enjoyed viewing the stunning
12 m high Vivian Falls, a hidden gem and a landmark in local Māori history. We now understand from a local that it is likely the falls were named after an early surveyor.
From there we walked the 3 km or so track, which took us through lovely bush with glimpses of farmland views. We were pleased to find the bus waiting for us as we emerged from the track and drove us to the Les Batkin Reserve for our lunch stop. We were alongside the fast-moving Waikato River with a view of the iconic Tuakau Bridge.
Another short drive and we were at the Alexandra Redoubt, named after Alexandra of Denmark, who at the time had recently married the Prince of Wales.
We heard about the design of redoubt fortifications and the reasons for them. This particular redoubt was built in 1863 but only occupied for one year.
The majority of the group then did a looped bush walk containing some outstanding rimu trees, while the remainder had an interesting time reading the old headstones, admiring the rural vista and a particularly fine view of the river and Tuakau Bridge in the distance.
Another short drive and we were at the Alexandra Redoubt, named after Alexandra of Denmark, who at the time had recently married the Prince of Wales.
We heard about the design of redoubt fortifications and the reasons for them. This particular redoubt was built in 1863 but only occupied for one year.
The majority of the group then did a looped bush walk containing some outstanding rimu trees, while the remainder had an interesting time reading the old headstones, admiring the rural vista and a particularly fine view of the river and Tuakau Bridge in the distance.
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A book entitled The Invasion of Waikato Te Riri Ki Tainui by Vincent O’Malley published in 2024 by Bridget Williams Books Ltd was recommended reading material for anyone interested in knowing more about the land wars in the Waikato. |
The unanimous opinion - a great day!!
Special thanks to Gilbert & Jenny, Spring & Julie. Text: Jenny Photos: Jenny, Linda and Praemi
Special thanks to Gilbert & Jenny, Spring & Julie. Text: Jenny Photos: Jenny, Linda and Praemi
12 October 2025 - Waihi Beach
The bus was fully laden with 48 passengers as it headed south on this slightly cloudy Sunday morning.
After a cafe stop at The Refinery in Paeroa, which everyone seemed to enjoy, we continued on to beautiful Waihi Beach with its white sand, sparkling sea and pretty shell-strewn high tide mark.
After a cafe stop at The Refinery in Paeroa, which everyone seemed to enjoy, we continued on to beautiful Waihi Beach with its white sand, sparkling sea and pretty shell-strewn high tide mark.
Through breaks in the bush we glimpsed some lovely views back to Waihi Beach and out to sea where Tuhua, Mayor Island, rises out of the water 26kms off the coast. It is the tip of a volcano that is rich in obsidian rock, prized by early Maori for use as tools and weapons. Today this island is a bird sanctuary and the clear waters round its northern end are a marine reserve. Beyond that, it is a popular site for big game fishing.
As we walked, we noticed a gnarly old puriri trunk and stopped to see if we could spot any moth holes (but really it was to catch our breath!). A bit further on we discovered rewarewa flowers lying on the track and looked up to see several of these tall trees with their saw-toothed leaves towering above us. We marvelled at the lovely flowers with their male and female stamens, and the curly intricate core of deep red and yellow. We also commented on some rangiora bushes growing beside the track and how their nickname is “bushman’s toilet paper”. Large soft leaves with a white underside, they have apparently also been used at times by early bushmen as postcards to send messages to one another and even out of the bush through the postal system to their families.
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Here we divided into two groups, the A walkers set off first towards the northern end of the beach where they scrambled up over some large boulders and onto the track that led up and along the cliff to Orokawa Bay, just over 3kms away.
Soon after that the B walkers followed and we were all grateful for the shady track when the sun came out and shone down brightly. 
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Soon enough it was time to return along the same track and back to Waihi Beach. Our bus was waiting to take us the short distance back to Waihi town, where we admired the main street enhancements that were carried out in 2001 to honour the gold mining history of this attractive town. These street improvements were so successful they won several awards for the town, not least of which was in 2019 when Waihi was named “New Zealand’s Most Beautiful Small Town”.
Out of the bus and on foot again, we took time to admire the poppet head tower at the top of Seddon Street as we walked up to look at the Cornish Pumphouse and hear the story of how it was moved 300 metres from its original site along teflon coated concrete beams - all 3 stories and 2,000 tonnes of concrete of which it is constructed!
And then we took a stroll along the rim track of the open cast Martha Mine, a giant and impressive hole in the ground that was worked from 1988 until a catastrophic slip on its northern face in 2015, when 2 million tons of rock and rubble collapsed onto the mine floor and brought the mining operations there to a halt.
And then we took a stroll along the rim track of the open cast Martha Mine, a giant and impressive hole in the ground that was worked from 1988 until a catastrophic slip on its northern face in 2015, when 2 million tons of rock and rubble collapsed onto the mine floor and brought the mining operations there to a halt.
The bus was a bit quieter on the return journey as we headed through the stunning Karangahake Gorge to Paeroa, where we had a toilet stop near a man selling fresh blueberries from the back of his truck. Our members pretty much bought up the last of his stock!
And then we settled in for the 1 1/2hr trip back to Auckland - some snoozed, some enjoyed the views of vibrant spring green countryside, while others chatted quietly. Everyone felt pleasantly weary after our Big Day Out in the Bay of Plenty's fresh coastal air.
A special thanks to the leaders and their helpers for this Big Day Out!
Leaders: Sandra T. and Ann Marie - Sandra W. and Joy
Text: Sandra T. Photos: Sue B., Linda and Sandra
And then we settled in for the 1 1/2hr trip back to Auckland - some snoozed, some enjoyed the views of vibrant spring green countryside, while others chatted quietly. Everyone felt pleasantly weary after our Big Day Out in the Bay of Plenty's fresh coastal air.
A special thanks to the leaders and their helpers for this Big Day Out!
Leaders: Sandra T. and Ann Marie - Sandra W. and Joy
Text: Sandra T. Photos: Sue B., Linda and Sandra