Karekare-Pararaha p.3

The dunes are covered in a mix of marram grass, spinifex, bunny grass, and lupin. In the swamp a member of the cleavers family is quite spectacular with its intensely white flowers.

The route guides along here tell you simply to follow the footprints.

We arrive at Tunnel Point, where a large rusting boiler, too big to make it through the railway tunnel, marks an unfortunate lack of communication betwen the parties involved. There is another camp site here, again requiring a permit, but all water has to be carried in on foot.

Tunnels

....have a strange effect on some people

That was fun.

Also for a short blessed period we get to walk on firm ground again, along the old rail track bed.

Years ago when the ocean was closer and the area was damper, this small tunnel hosted a colony of cave wetas. We wondered how the first ever cave wetas arrived here, given they are predominantly darkness dwellers and the distance to be covered from their nearest habitats is considerable.

Some brief and welcome shade before we head

out through the dunes and onto the soft sand by the breakers once more, then up the path by the lagoon and back to the car.

The trip back has taken a little longer with all the messing around with cameras, and we have totalled about five and a half hours including the lunch break. I honk goodbye and thanks to Dan and head home via an ice cream shop. I have earned it. .