To Tapatupotu Bay

We searched for the trailhead. A driver told us that we could get to the bay by walking downhill 1 km to a gravel road and walking that down to the bay. Hardly a great walk, it would save time. We wanted to walk along the Pacific ocean now that we had left the Tasman sea behind.

We headed back to the lighthouse and found the trailhead--it dropped off a hairpin turn in the lighthouse footpath.

We started down a friendly downhill trail to Sandy Bay. Then we faced it. A New Zealand switchback to the next ridge. (A New Zealand switchback is little foot spaces carved right into the hillside. It's like a mud ladder. It goes straight up.)

This was the major part of the 2 1/2 hours ahead of us. We got 1 photo during the climb. We were too tired to push the shutter.

Emily and Benjamin raced ahead, but Lucy and Terry dropped to the ground at the top and sat and drank water for 10 minutes before starting off again.

We noticed that the DOC recommends a counter-clockwise path for this walk. That would provide gentler climbs and one steep descent to Sandy Bay.

This was the only hill the guidebook described as 'steep.' This was rated 'easy.'

We reached the high point and saw our camp--it seemed so close. Horizontally, it was close, but we still had to descend to the beach.

We finished this leg in 1 1/2 hours, one hour less than the book. That was great; we needed the time to pitch the tents--on flat, level ground with soft mushy grass under them--and to get supper.

We played Hearts in one tent until we started to get too cold. The Pacific breeze seemed a lot colder than our first night.

Emily had a tough time keeping warm enough--her side of the tent was broadside to the wind from the ocean. Benjamin and Terry pitched their tent so the rain fly would deflect the prevailing breeze and they slept well.

The next morning, Alan arrived 15 minutes early and we had to rush the last bit of packing.

A short van ride to the car and we raced 6 hours to make the auto ferry home to Waiheke.

Mischief managed.

Photographs here.