Our group was Angela, Bill, Caroline, Kevin, Jenny, Joy, Judy, Mark, Norm, Norris, and Sophia.
Mark dropped us off at the Marawhara Walk entrance from where we made our way to Whites track and then up to Anawhata Road where we met Norris who’d taken the short route. From here we descended to the end of Anawhata Road and then down to the beach via the Keddle Homestead where we stopped to chat with some outdoorsy friends in residence and have an early lunch.
We were told that the tide may not be fully out when we arrive at the coast as the tide times there are slightly different to Onehunga’s. There was a strong wind blowing off the sea.
At the beach we headed south around the coast and were exposed to the sights and sounds of a wild sea crashing in. Before we’d gone half a kilometre we had a confab to discuss whether it would be safe to continue. We agreed to continue if we stayed together, helped each other across obstacles and never turned our backs on the sea; really big waves can occur without warning. Away we went and eventually made it to Fisherman’s Rock after some entertaining crossings of channels and ledges, and an encounter with a New Zealand fur seal that kept a healthy distance.
From the Rock we scrambled up, over and down to Whites Beach and then up to the Te Waha Point Lookout, and then down to North Piha via Laird Thompson Track.
Our group of happy trampers arrived back at the bus at about 3.30pm to be whisked away by Mark to a Piha Café coffee and then home.
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