Trip Reports

Okura Walkway   —   21st July 2002

Leader: Peter
Tale by Top Dog

As I walked along the Haigh Access Rd on a fine winter’s morning, sniffing for interesting smells and lifting a leg on my favourite trees, I spotted a group of people with really smelly boots, so I introduced myself, received a few pats, but no food, and lead them off to the bridge.

There were thirty-six in the group, chatting away merrily, and they kept up quite well. They liked the dry metalled track, the bush and the long tea stop, sitting on a sandspit in the sun, but no snacks for me! One wandered off across the river towards Long Bay, muttering something about next year’s walk, but I rounded him up and we set off along the sand to Dacre Cottage. I met a friend, so we sniffed each other, and we had a great time chasing each other, barking and splashing in the pools.

Near the dotterel nesting-place, mutinous mutterings of walking to Stillwater were heard, when a muddy-booted walker called Ralph appeared, having braved the cows and mud. The muttering stopped when they saw his yucky boots, so we turned back to the cottage for lunch. Some detoured over the “short cut” while the rest followed me round on the sand. They had lunch, waiting for the short cutters to slide down the cow trail. Here I was given water only, still no food!

They seemed to like the steps with passing places, optional mud and water, sand and the views of Coromandel and the Gulf islands. At the car park, I was picked up by my young owners, who gave me a lift home on their quad, a tired but happy dog. It was good to see so many new people, and thanks to my human helpers.