Tapawera Xmas Walk/Picnic. Organiser: David Blunt
After a day or two of unseasonably cold weather with snow on the ranges, it dawned clear for the Xmas picnic at Tapawera where about 2 dozen of us arrived mid morning at the village. Here we were met by well known local identity, Harry Hancock, and after introductions were led up the bush track in the Shedwood Conservation area behind the village. This is a little scenic gem with some large matai and kahikateas which seems to get little or no publicity. It ends at a lookout point which gives excellent views over the Motueka and Tadmor Valleys and across to the Mt Arthur range. After stopping here for a rest it was then back down an open grassy ridge to the carpark off Rata St, the round trip taking about 2 hours.
We then collected Carl & Sue Horn and proceeded down the Tapawera - Baton road to Harry's farm at Glenrae. A short drive through the paddocks brought us to a man-made lake with a lovingly restored hut on its edge. This was in fact the original Luna hut which had recently been transported by helicopter and truck from alongside the Upper Karamea river below the Wangapeka track. It was to have been demolished by DOC but through the efforts of the Hancock family and friends it has now been preserved in an idyllic spot where we were fortunate to enjoy a picnic lunch in near perfect conditions. Afterwards we were given a rundown on its history by Harry who then donned a Santa hat and distributed the Xmas presents. A circumnavigation of the lake and a spot of canoeing concluded a successful day.
On the picnic: Alison & David Nicoll, Christine & Dale Hoy, Carl & Sue Horn, Sarah & Olivia Simmonds, Brenda & Shelley Sinclair, Alice Patterson, Lindsay Twiname, Mary Honey, Mary Hsu, Yukari, John Liell, Karen Wardell, Stuart Slack, John Lammin, Sharon Foga, Mark Stevens, Tony Haddon, and trip organiser David Blunt.