2018 New Zealand - Day 4 Rangitoto & Day 5 Kiwi Jim
Two days worth of posts in this entry: Day 4 out to Rangitoto Island, and Day 5 heading to the very west end of one train line to visit Jim Benson (Kiwi) and his family.
Day 4 Health data... 19.8km walked, 50 floors climbed.
Day 5 Health data... 6.3km walked, a miserly 8 floors climbed.
I did not opt for the shuttle tour so had a long (hot and humid) day of walking/hiking. Immediately after arrival I (and one other) headed left to the Coastal Road trail (pretty much everyone else headed up or right. The trail led first past a series of old and newish "baches" (New Zealand Beach Houses). There are not many of them left (many were torn down around 1978 with only a placard to mark its place) but some are still in private hands. The houses are very basic with no power or running water.
The next stop along the coastal trail was a side road through lava flow rubble to a Black Back Gull Colony. The road ends but you are still not all that close to the colony which tend to congregate some distance in amongst treacherous lava rubble.
Back on trail and its a long open 5 km walk before getting to Mackenzie Bay and its beach and sightline to the Beacon Lighthouse. Here the beach is lovely for swimming and there are toilets for public use.
Carrying on you ascend the Summit Road to a set of steps to finally reach Summit Lookout and some amazing views of Auckland. I then to the Main rack trail to return to the wharf for the ferry. This last section is a fair bit slippery with loose rubble that was washed onto the trail so I found my feet slipping at several points.
Day 4 Health data... 19.8km walked, 50 floors climbed.
Day 5 Health data... 6.3km walked, a miserly 8 floors climbed.
Rangitoto
Volcanic Rangitoto Island erupted from the sea between 550 and 600 years ago and is one of the most iconic landmarks in Auckland's city skyline. The distinctive symmetrical cone rises 260 meters over the Hauraki Gulf. The island today and for for some time has been a conservation island kept free of predators so that local bird life and flora can exist and thrive.
Kiwi Jim Benson
The next day I had a lay-in till I caught the 11:15 train to head out to Swanson Station (about a 40 minute ride) where Jim Benson (nicknamed Kiwi) picked me up and we headed out to his farm on a hilltop. In getting there we stopped first at his neighbour Hayden Steen's home where he and his wife were hosting a large family gathering. After a few beer and watching the preparations for roasting a full pig we headed out to Jim's home.
Jim's wife Rits and their son Joshua were out at Japanese Language school and were just then returning. Also arriving where other friends of theirs for a potluck lunch... and to help Jim relocate the sheep to a fresh pasture. Their farm also include a small herd of cattle and 15 bee hives.
I very much enjoyed my time at their farm and the afternoon simply flew by. Now back at my B&B "vegging" out till my flight tomorrow afternoon to Gisborne (and on to Wairoa).
