Separation Point - Organiser: Mark Stevens
Four steely souls set sail for Separation Point in the Abel Tasman, for a walk in the park. And a walk in the park it turned out to be. The leader, with a group consensus, decided to drive over to Takaka and stay the Saturday night at Pohara motor camp to avoid the ice on the roads and to get an early start. As I picked up the souls in my car, a comment was passed that we could take someone else’s car. My 22 year old classic Mitsubishi Sigma station wagon did not seem to instill any faith that we would make it over the Takaka hill! The cabin at the motor camp was of a suitable standard and we all partook of the fare at one of the three cafés at Pohara and settled down to watch the rugby. Early to bed was thought to be a good idea as the trip had an unknown entity to it of Gibbs Hill. So alarms were set and earplugs were placed but, as it turned out, the alarm was not needed for Ruth woke with a start to the sound of an alarm that no one else heard. We set off at 7.30am on a beautiful winter morning from Wainui inlet up a four wheel drive track to the saddle, then down the hill to the DOC hut where we took a wee look around this old converted farm house. We headed down the track to the beach and up through the bush to a side track to Separation Point for morning tea, a few photos and yes we saw seals, then along golden deserted sandy beaches and through bush covered track to Totaranui. Then on up to Gibbs hill with views over Abel Tasman Park and back down the four wheel drive track to Wainui inlet at 2.30pm, just in time for lattes at another café at Pohara. We even had time for a visit to the grove which has nikau palms and interesting rock formations. And me old car made it all the way there and back, no problem. The steely souls on this trip were Ruth Hesselyn, David Blunt, Brian McLean, and Mark Stevens.