Tutira Walkway, Saturday 13 June 2020
Banner Pix: Lake Tutira and Lake Waikopiro from above
It was a promising start to the day after overnight rain and strong winds cleared. Sixteen trampers gathered in the car park a bit later than usual, as we were only going 35 minutes up the road to Lake Tutira.
The air was cool and very still, allowing lovely reflections on the calm lake, and the sun did its best to shine through scattered clouds.
Watching her feet
Parking at the camp site, we walked back down the road to the start of Peras Track which takes you up behind the lake and along to the summit, Table Mountain. Some trees were still showing the last of their autumn colours, others were already bare. Recent rain and cattle walking had made the farm track in places very slippery and muddy, and you had to watch where you put your feet.
Leaving Lake Waikopiro, we passed a pretty farmhouse complete with bountiful vegetable garden. We climbed above the lake onto open tops, which gave us wonderful views back from where we had come. Morning tea was at the intersection of another track which comes up from the camping ground.
The trig at 494m is the high point on Table Mountain. It was too early for lunch and the misty low cloud prevented us seeing the views, plus a cool breeze had sprung up. So after a quick photo, we went down past the Ridgemount car park and into the forest for lunch.
Descending through pine forest, we took the Galbraith track back to the camping ground, where the leading group was told that one of our new people had left her glasses at the lunch spot. Ali went back with her to find them. All ended well; an hour later they arrived back, all smiles and with glasses firmly in place!
Break time
By this time, the promise of sunshine hadn’t eventuated; it was overcast and cold, so we were all pleased to pile into the van and head for home and hot showers.
An enjoyable walk for a cool winter’s day…
Trampers: Shona Tupe, Sue Martin, Jane Thomson, Geraldine Peters, Ann Adsett, Sue Gribble, Rosemary Jeffery, Viv Bramley, Cherie Le Leivre, Tony Wrightson, Ali Hollington, Colin Jones, John Bennett, Sarah Patterson, Di Reid and reporter Alison Greer
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