Monday Walkers

In 1887, the then paramount chief of Ngāti Tūwharetoa Horonuku Te Heuheu Tukino 1V, gifted the sacred summits of Tongariro to the government to protect their tapu, but also, as Sir Hepi Te Heuheu wrote “to be owned by no-one and yet be for everyone”.

Taupō turned on another stunning Monday; perfect for our walk along a section of lake shore and the Waitahanui River. 

Sunny faced daffodils nodded a cheery welcome to us, and to the first day of spring, as we arrived at the Rotorua lakefront.

If we were eggs, we would have been cracked and scrambled by the time we arrived at the River Road carpark in the Whirinaki Te Pua-a- Tāne Conservation Park.  

The establishment of the 78,000 hectare Pureora Forest Park has long been regarded as a hero story in New Zealand’s conservation history.

Another beautiful Monday, how fortunate we have been with the weather.

Rainbow Crater, Sulphur Crystal Cliffs, the Lagoon, Sauron’s Eye, Miner’s Lament all names oozing drama and colour.

Today we walked in New Zealand’s largest mainland ecological island, an area protected by 47 kilometers of pest proof fencing situated on Maungatautari.

Life is a series of changing seasons and Matariki and the winter solstice is a perfect time to remember those and what has passed, celebrate what we have and reflect on the future.

Another blue-sky Monday. How fortunate we were especially with the huge downpour on Sunday night and meteorological winter only weeks away.

Rāhina dawned, chilly, crisp and clear.

Despite dire forecasts of rain an optimistic crowd of walkers set off for the Ohaaki Wetlands.