This article was first published in the Tararua Tramper Volume 96, no 7, August 2024
Eastbourne to Days Bay the long way M
Saturday 29 June 2024
For those not going away for Matariki, a Saturday jaunt in East Harbour Regional Park proved a good option.
The 83-bus cruised into the Eastbourne Bus Barn right on 8.50 - the assigned meeting time. Fifteen of us trooped up the track from the bus barn towards the ridge top, chatting madly.
Morning tea stop (with spiced apple muffins) was at the Butterfly Creek picnic area. From here we climbed up behind the toilet and forged on up Middle Ridge – the dauntless J-P leading the way. Following the possum trappers’ route along this gentle beech-forested ridge was straight forward. We even got in some hut bagging, with many signing the hut book at miniature Stan’s hut.
The sun came out just as we arrived at a small clearing with a harbour view – excellent timing for a lunch break. From there it was just a few minutes to the giant rātā and the main ridge which we followed along to Days Bay, descending for ice-cream, coffee and beer.
- Party members
- Sarah White (leader and scribe), Tracey Avolio, Peter Burke, Christine Ben-Tovim, Marie Henderson, Leonore Hoke, Ann Hubbard, Belynda Jack, Siobhan McMahon, Jane-Pyar (J-P) Mautner, Jo Newman, Bharat Pancha, Sue Scott, Tim Stone, Ann Walker.