ON SATURDAY 20 FEBRUARY WE EMBARKED UPON OUR FIRST LEISURE WALK FOR 2010. OUR DESTINATION FOR THIS FIRST ADVENTURE WAS WENDERHOLM.
Cradled by the Puhoi and Waiwera Rivers, Wenderholm was the first Auckland Regional park and remains one of the most beautiful.
Its forested headland, rich in native birdlife is one of Auckland's finest examples. The historic Couldrey House sits in beautiful serene grounds, and a carved pouwhenua nearby welcomes visitors to Wenderholm.
COULDREY HOUSE
The house is now known as Couldrey House after its last private owner. It has been restored and is run by volunteers as a museum, open to the public on weekends. It was known as as Wenderholm (winter home) and that is where the park which was opened in1965 took its name from.
BEFORE STARTING OUR WALK WE NEEDED TO READ THE BOARD AND DECIDE WHICH OF THE WALKS WE WANTED TO DO. THE BOARD PROVIDES YOU WITH INFORMATION AS TO HOW LONG, I.E. THE DISTANCE, THE DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY, WHETHER OR NOT THE TRACK IS SUITABLE TO WALK WITH TODDLERS IN STROLLERS, WHAT TYPE OF SHOES ARE BEST TO WEAR, SUCH AS JANDALS, SNEAKERS OR BOOTS. SO ALWAYS REMEMBER TO READ IN ORDER TO MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION.
OUR DECISION WAS TO DO THE PERIMETER WALK AS IT WAS THE LONGEST AND WE HAD AT LEAST 3 HOURS AVAILABLE TO ENJOY OURSELVES. AT TIMES IT WAS TOUGH WITH LOTS OF STAIRS AND UPHILL SECTIONS, UNEVEN PATHS AND TREE ROOTS TO KEEP AN EYE OPEN FOR IN ORDER TO AVOID TRIPPING. FORTUNATELY NONE OF US HAD ANY SERIOUS FALLS, HOWEVER, DIANA DID HER USUAL THING AND TRIPPED ONCE!
ONCE AGAIN ALWAYS REMEMBER TO READ THE INFORMATIN ON THE BOARDS, AS YOU CAN TELL FROM READING THE ABOVE NOTICE, THE TRACK WE CONTINUED ON WAS A LITTLE MORE DIFFICULT, THAT HAS BEEN INDICATED THROUGH IT STATING IT CHANGES FROM 'WALKING TRACK TO TRAMPING TRACK STANDARD'.
ALONG OUR WALK ONE OF THE INFORMATION BOARDS WE CAME ACROSS DESCRIBED WHAT A MIDDEN IS...BASICALLY IT IS A SITE WHERE THE MAORI PEOPLE DISCARDED ITEMS THEY NO LONGER NEEDED. THESE INCLUDED FOOD WASTE, SHELLS AND STONES. THESE SITES PROVIDE US WITH LOTS OF INFORMATION ABOUT THEIR DIET AND GENERAL LIFESTYLE.
ONE OF THE SKILLS WE LEARNT DURING THIS LEISURE WALK WAS HOW TO READ A MAP TO ENSURE THAT WE KNEW WHICH DIRECTION WE WANTED TO WALK, WE ALSO USED IT TO MONITOR OUR PROGRESS ALONG THE WAY.
