Bell Rock and Boundary Stream, Wednesday 18 February 2026
Banner Photo: Tree hugging on the Kamahi Loop track
On a fresh 12-deg C morning, seven keen mid-weekers departed the Park Island car park heading for Bell Rock. There were only two traffic-managed work sites impeding our progress and the last kilometres of gravel road had just been graded after a rather wet weekend, so a pleasant 90-minute journey.
Heading up to Bell Rock
We walked through the bush to Bell Rock, arriving at 10 o’clock – spot on time for morning tea. The clear weather gave us beautiful views of the ranges to the west.
On the walk out, Colin took us on a wee detour through a small gully surrounded by bush joining up with the main track after a couple of hundred metres. Underfoot was rather treacherous with long grass hiding deep water ruts; however we all got through unharmed. We then continued along the ridge to the road, arriving back at the car park by 11.30.
We had lunch at the Boundary Stream shelter before heading off for an anti-clockwise hike around the Kamahi Loop. Underfoot was surprisingly dry after the weekend’s rain so we made quick progress, arriving back at the cars around 2pm.
Lycopodium volubile (climbing clubmoss, waewaekoukou)
One plant we found that few of us knew the name of is lycopodium. As kids in Pongaroa, my brother and I used to collect it for our neighbour to decorate the church at Christmas time.
The damp conditions also provided an ideal environment for various fungi.
On the journey home, we had the obligatory ice cream stop at the Tutira store – the best value $4 ice cream I’ve ever had. We arrived home at 15.30 after a most pleasant outing on a beautiful Hawke’s Bay day.
Trampers: Di Reid, Ian Pirie, Colin Jones, Lynne Jones, Elly Govers, Kate Fuller and reporter Keith Gore
Leave a Reply