We left Pukekohe at 7.30 am in two vans and a car and by the time we had picked up three on the way and met three more at Gulf Harbour we were a grand total of 29 who boarded the ferry for the 9.50 sailing to Tiri.  Mike who up till now had organised the trip stayed behind to do final calculations and go for a walk in the Shakespeare Reg. Park. Maree and I were now in charge!

After the usual briefing by the DOC ranger at the wharf we all set off together along the Hobbs Beach Track in perfect weather. There were penguins in some of the nesting boxes but rather difficult to see unless you peered in very close to the glass and were then surprised to see the little penguins peering right back at you. Further along after a short walk on the beach we headed up the Kawerau Track into some lovely bush with large stands of old Kohekohe trees. The track was largely boardwalk with viewing areas along the way. One Kokako was spotted here by some as well as Saddleback, Whitehead, Tui, Fantail and Stitchbird but not in large numbers.

At a junction at the end of the track we divided into two groups. Maree took the group to do the full circuit while those wanting to do a shorter walk came with me. Not far down the track a small group of keen photographers also broke off so they could go at their own pace. The rest of us carried on to Fishermans Bay where we stopped for lunch overlooking The Arches rock formations. What an amazing view on a stunning day! From here we carried on along the East Coast Track toward the Lighthouse, bumping in to the photographers at their lunch stop. Once at the Lighthouse and shop we relaxed in the shade enjoying the antics of the Takahe and watching the Bellbird around the water trough.

We were joined soon after by the photographers and about 40 minutes later by the other group. Apart from the heat in the last section they had enjoyed their walk and had walked down to the beach at the northern end of the island and had also seen the huge 800 year old Pohutukawa tree. After they had had a short break we all wandered down to a little dam (one of the only ponds left on the island at the moment) and spotted the pair of Brown Teal ducks and two ducklings well camouflaged by the brown water! Back at the shop everyone wandered off in their own time down the Wattle Track stopping to observe the many birds and meeting up again at the wharf. Some of us were lucky enough to be at one of the viewing areas when a pair of Kokako flew down for a drink at the trough and stayed for some time in the trees above us. We saw lots of different birds down this track including Kakariki. We were all back at the wharf in time for the 3.30 sailing back to Gulf Harbour.

The track times in the DOC leaflet are actually quite accurate when the extra time from the shop to the wharf is included. The full circuit group took 3 ½  hours to the shop so with ½  an hour down the Wattle track it brings it to 4 hours. The shorter group took 3 hours to complete the circuit Hobbs Beach, Kawerau, Fishermans Bay, Lighthouse and Wattle Tracks including a lunch stop. It was very easy to pass the rest of the time observing the birds around the shop and allowing plenty of time to sit and observe down the Wattle Track.

Maree and I thank you all for joining us on this trip and enabling us all to benefit from the group discount. We also thank Mike for his organising and calculating.