Bimbling along through Hunua Regional Park

Sunday proved to be a perfect tramping day with some of our favorite people -  Carol and Sue and our favorite 4-legged friend, Archie.  We headed to Maraitai and Duder Regional Park --- the park where we get to roam with the sheep.  But to our dismay, Archie was not allowed.  We did a "think" and decided to drive through Clevedon for a cuppa and a little retail therapy and then onward to Hunua Park.  David and I have wanted to explore this park --- We aborted an attempt when we first arrived due to navigational difficulties and extreme rainy conditions.

At the very start of our tramp, this pix captures the spirit of the day.  Yes --- Carol is pretending to be behind bars ----- Hmmmmmm --- Is this perhaps what she is thinking about as she returns to work tomorrow after a 2 week holiday?

Hunua Falls!

What a perfect day!

We did the Cossey Gorge Track and the Massey Track.  This gives you an idea of the impressive native forest.  I just love all these ferns.  We are under the canopy of the fern trees and other trees which makes these tracks so pleasant.  Although the track was steep in parts the shade tempers the heat.

             There was even an area with giant kauri trees.  These always just strike you with awe!  Imagine when New Zealand was just covered with these trees.  No wonder they work so hard to preserve the ones they have and nurture new growth.

                  Archie is tilting his head as if to say, "What another picture?  Give a guy a break!"

Cossey  Reservoir

A bird on a wire!  But what bird?  A Kingfisher!  (I know you are wondering where that wire came from…) As you leave the dam, you walk along a road before entering the forest again ----- thus the wires overhead.

And every great tramp has a stream crossing.  David was feeling pretty cocky here --- in total control of these stepping stones.  Carol, Sue and I bimbled across with Archie loving the cool-down for his paws.

Starving at the end of our tramp, we made it back to Maraitai where most restaurants were already closing for the day.  We settled on the patio of a Mediterranean restaurant and enjoyed a scrumptious lunch/dinner overlooking the beach.

Aaaaaah --- what a life!

So have you figured out what my new favorite word "bimble" means?