On a very foggy winter morning 13 trampers left Hamilton to travel to Lake Rotoiti in Rotorua. After morning tea, we started the walk from the edge of the lake. This was a lovely bush walk, the track was slightly undulating with a few tree roots, we saw all sorts of fungi and many different trees, they were all very tall and some knobbly. We heard some birdsong and saw a Tui. I think it was too cold in the bush for most birds. We soon warmed up on the walk.

The track is named Hongi’s track after the warrior who dragged his waka along this track to launch an attack on Rotorua.

We came out of the bush and walked along the edge of Lake Rotoehu, it was very still with not much movement except for some black swans and Canada geese having a swim. On our left was a huge cliff and there were warning signs to beware of falling rocks, we did see a couple of large boulders which had recently broken off the cliff and had fallen onto the track.

We stopped for lunch halfway up a hill where Dianne kept us entertained by having fun on her lunchtime slide. After lunch a few ventured up the steep four wheel drive track, hopeful for some lake views. The terrain was quite gritty and sandy which made for good traction under foot. The track under bush cover wasn’t too muddy either surprisingly.

We returned the same way we came making a detour to the wishing tree, this tree is a sacred matai and where as a baby Hinehopu was hidden from enemies by her mother, it is also under this tree that she met her husband. We picked up some greenery and headed for the tree, which was on the side of a busy road. We dropped our offering at the tree and made a wish. As cars drove by they tooted their horns, maybe this was for good luck also.

We had an ice cream stop in Tirau and were back in Hamilton for 5pm.

Thank you to Dianne for doing all the driving and for leading this walk, the weather was kind to us, on what started out as a foggy morning turned into a beautiful winter’s day with a clear blue sky and no rain.

Emma