Day Hiking - K2W Track

View back to Kinloch

The Junction

View to Kawakawa Bay

View towards Whakaipo Bay

Rangiora - Bushman's Friend

Old Man's Beard

A day hike was also done while we were staying in Kinloch.  We walked the K2W trail, which is also a mountain bike track.  Instead of doing the full hike into Whakaipo Bay, we did the Headland Loop track.  It is a relatively easy track, no major hills, some stunning views from the look out points.

I have to admit I have never seen so many Rangiora plants growing and with such large healthy leaves, way back in the old days it was often used as toilet paper, so subsequently is also known as Bushman's Friend.  Also seen for the first time is Old Man's Beard which though beautiful is a major pest in New Zealand native forests.

Miss B and I think that by the time we added in all the little detours to lookout points, we had hiked between 17-18 km , The Scout thinks about 15km.  Either way it was a good hike and I certainly felt it the next day, so I very was glad to have a rest day, reading and stitching.

Scenes from my Holiday

• the view over Lake Taupo from the beach at Kinloch - we had the most gorgeous weather the whole time we were away.  Each afternoon we ventured down to the lake to cool off.  
• lupins on the beach
• Mr J kayaking - all of us had a  lot of fun kayaking 
• the games table - Sequence in progress, one of many board games enjoyed by us all.  No wifi, meant that  a lot of time was spent reading and playing games
• from Mt Tongariro - looking towards the Blue Lake - more on this in my next post
• My hand sewing in progress.
• Mr J trying stand up paddle boarding

Thank you all for your kind wishes in my previous post. We had a fabulous holiday, beautiful weather, great fun when the rest of the family turned up for the long weekend.   Now it is back to reality and preparing for school again.

Weekending

 

 

While The Scout and Miss B have been at Scout Jamboree, Mr J and I spent a couple of days down in Kinloch, with my brother-in-law and his family.  We were lucky enough to have perfect weather yesterday and spent the day out on their boat on Lake Taupo.  We went across to the Maori rock carvings at Mine Bay, these were only done in the 1970's so aren't as old as I thought.  It was a bit cold for me to go swimming, however Mr J and his uncle and young cousin enjoyed the water.  Mr J was delighted to be able to try trout fishing too - unfortunately he didn't catch anything.

What have you been doing this weekend?
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Weekending

Miss B & Mr J at a rest point mid way

 

View from the top - Kawakawa Bay

The Scout on the lakeside track at Kinloch

Kinloch - beautiful on a fine day

Craters of the Moon

Craters of the Moon

Fumerole with steam escaping

 

 

I'm back - we all had a lovely break at Kinloch.  a rest day at the bach on Saturday, then on Sunday we tackled the Kawakawa Bay Walking track.  There were some up hill bits, there was a little mud and a bit of standing aside for mountain bikers, but a good walk.  Lunch at the rocky outcrop from the top was a rather windy affair - great views though. 

Monday saw us heading to Craters of the Moon -a geothermal attraction with a boardwalk track from which you can view  lots of interesting steaming bubbling craters, fumeroles and coloured rocks.  

Of course I managed to find pretty spring flowers as well - a delicate yellow wattle and a beautiful rhododendron.

And yes - some sewing got done in the evenings, but I'll show those photos tomorrow.