Day One. Banks Peninsula Walk.

Given we were all sleeping in the same little house, ‘twas a fairly early and somewhat loud rise this morning for day one of our walk.

And the beginning of MoD’s big birthday weekend.

Did I mention that yesterday?

Perhaps not.

Turns out the weekend Cath had planned coincided with a certain Man of Dreams 65th birthday.

What a treat for him 😜

I mean who doesn’t want to go tramping for 3 days on your 65th?

The group, and very smartly so, had decided that much like our food, it was each to his own.

Therefore our starts were staggered, basically when we got all our gear packed up, had the big breakfast (boiled eggs and porridge) and headed out.

We started off about 7.38 (to be pacific) up that bloody big hill.

Today our brochure promised us a 5-7 hour walk. 11km from Onuku to Flea Bay; starting at 200m getting up to 699m and then back down to sea level.

The walk and views were spectacular.

Trigg GG which is at the highest point, provides a view of Mount Cook – 230km away. On a clear day. We didn’t quite see it today.

We ended up walking mainly with our new bestie Mark, a fountain of local knowledge, having done this track twice before.

In the late 1980’s, the farming community in the area were looking at ways to diversify their income after suffering droughts and falling prices. Coincidentally a private trust was establishing Hinewai Reserve as a major conservation initiative which meant the tracks were formed, bridges constructed, signs erected and the huts were built. Nine farmers originally got together and formed the Banks Peninsula walks. There are now five farming families involved. The land we walked was mostly private and by walking the tracks we actually assist their income and I guess keep them afloat in tough times. The tracks are well laid out with white painted posts and rocks to follow.

We were lucky to take in beautiful coastal views, 400 year old trees, stunning forests and waterfalls, gorgeous little huts, loos with views and of course a number of fantails to guide our way.

I can always be relied upon to find the loo

We reached Flea Bay in reasonable time, about 1.15pm. Ms. Strava tells me it was 12.25km in 3.53 hours for this team. 630m elevation gain.

Flea Bay is famous for the largest little penguin colony on mainland New Zealand. We didn’t see any. The toilets did have a sign in them apologising for the smell due to ‘penguins nesting underneath’.

Somehow, probably cause we got there first and claimed it, we stayed in our own little room in a little complex away from the main house. There were two rooms for BP walkers along with a kitchen and bedroom for the Penguin Historical Society.

The main house, pictured below, had two bedrooms with bunks, a living room, kitchen, shower and toilet.

MoD, Brent and Cath took a swim in Stony Bay. The water was cold but I have to say, quite soothing on Benny and Bjorn – those friendly bilateral bunions of mine.

A bit of Back Country Cuisine Nasi Goreng for dinner and the rest of the night was spent playing Skip Bo. Turns out Brent and Tanya are very competitive. Turns out I’m not.