Bell Rock – Taraponui, Saturday 16 July 2022
Banner Photo: Campbell atop ‘Bell Rock’
A cold, crisp morning with the promise of a beautiful day greeted us at Park Island. We piled into the van and Fiona’s car, and headed out past the airport, heading for Tutira.
Lake Tutira was shrouded in fog but as we gained height after turning at the Tutira store, the sun came out and our lunch destination was in sight. It was only 3 degrees at the car park, so we didn’t hang around; it was off up through the bush, over the stile and into the sun. There weren’t many birds around – guess it was too cold for them, too!
We regrouped at Bell Rock, with lots of photos taken, especially of the fogged-in Mohaka valley, and as it was only 9am we continued on, having our morning tea break on some well-positioned logs. An easy walk across farmland, along a 4WD road and up to the high point with its twin communications towers.
At 1309m, Taraponui has 360-degree views, just fabulous on a clear day. We had lunch by the trig but the keen south-west wind drove us to shelter by the building where we waited in the sun for John D and Alan to arrive.We returned the way we had come, regrouping again at Bell Rock. From there, some decided to return to the car park via the top track, dropping down onto the road and walking the 500m to the vehicles, while others dropped down through the bush.
We had made good time so it was a stop at the Tutira store for their famous ice creams, then back to Park Island by 4pm.
Trampers: Di Reid, Campbell Living, Sue Gribble, Shona Tupe, Lynette Morgan, Fiona Bryant, John Russell, John Dobbs, Gaye Gasser, Juliet Gillick, Marie Deroles, John Bennett, Jo Karlsson, Alan Crabbe and reporter Alison Greer
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