Duder Regional Park Monday 3rd March 09

Today we knew was going to be lovely and because she was not at school, Penny decided we should go for a stroll somewhere. We decided on Duder regional park, a little way down the East coast past Maraetai. After packing our picnic, off we went. Soon we were trekking up the hill overlooking saltmarshes on our right at the mouth of the Wairoa River (big bay, little river)the gradual hill took us on to the rolling hills adjacent the shore
where we started to see the panama of theTamaki Strait looking out to the islandsat the South East end of Waiheke Island
Here's Penny on the pathway as we head along the headland, bit windy here!


After a bit of walking we came to the point, called Whakakaiwhara Point, which was a natural fortification, really steep almost cliffs from here down to the water. And here we found a sheltered spot on the North side, out of the wind for our picnic.After a simply lovely time here having lunch and Coffee of course, off we went over the dumpy hills toward the high point. Just before we arrived at our picnic spot we eyed up some mushrooms for the soon to be empty lunchbag. and retracing our steps we soon had a good kilo of them
Here's Pen on the track againMe too.. Then we took a little detour along a new track in the bushline which was'nt there last time we came, some 6-8 years ago, how time flies. Needless to say the lovely little track didn't take us anywhere near our destination which was the trig point on the highest hill on the peninsula, but spat us out on theroadway near the start. Of course not to be outdone by lack iof signs we retraced some of the track and burst out on to a steep hillside where we suspected the trig point may be waiting at tjhe top. After a bit of puffing sure enough it revealed itsself van we were able to wend our way along the ridgeline to the trig.
Her's Pen concealing her bag of mushrooms

and a last one of me before we saunter down the hill to the carpark.

What with mushroom hunting (they were good for tea tonight with the barbie) and picnic stop that was a splendid 2 hr 45. And no although surrounded by water and passing our local beaches on the way home we did'nt stop for a swim cos we forgot to bring our cozzies. After our regulation Whitford ice cream we just went shopping. Still cant get Pen's swimming floats at a cheap price, $40 for a kick board id ridiculous eh!

Anyway thats what we did today. hope it finds you all well!!

Have a great day people.