Maunganui Bluff

Our task today was to climb a track leading to the summit of the 459 metre high Maunganui
Bluff and we would start from the Aranga Beach at its base. As we tilted our heads skyward
to view the top the first word which sprang to our minds was "daunting". When we reached the summit that word was "exhilarating". The path began fairly easily across flaxen grass and then began to ascend around the periphery of the hill along a somewhat rocky trail with clear and uninterrupted sea views. As we neared the top the climb abruptly steepened and we passed through an unusual avenue of pine trees with their fronds pointing upwards into more intense bushland, where we glimpsed some very pretty pohutukawa trees. The views from the summit were magic. The rolling  verdant countryside stretched right to the dune lakes in the distance. The tranquility of Maunganui Bluff makes it a safe haven for nesting birds such as oystercatchers and dotterels. We returned to Aranga Beach the same way and decided to have lunch there. The beach itself is a board rider's mecca. It stretches as far as the eye can see. Two or three metre high swells keep rolling in culminating in a row of waves pounding into the shore line. While we were having our lunch we were entertained by a plump seal suddenly scrambling out of the rocks and waddling across the sand before heading out to sea. It was still early afternoon so we headed for the 450 hectare Trouson Kauri Park to have a mini 1.7 kilometre walk there and admire some kauri trees. The walk took us along a dedicated boardwalk through a lovely rainforest of mature kauri trees, some were 1200 years old, ferns of all description, climbing plants as well as a variety of flowers such as honeysuckles and lilacs. One of the unique sights at Trouson was two sets of kauri trees called the Four Sisters, each pair conjoined together from a single trunk. It was a delightful end to our day.