On Sunday Hazel, Catherine and Don, Catherine and Owen, Bronson, Terry and Wayne did the Big Easy cycle trail on foot.
The day was overcast, but not cold, with a light breeze at the start of the day.
Wayne had got there first and parked his car at Te Kiteroa and walked for 55 minutes along the cycle/walking track down the Waimate Stream past Garlands Bridge to the start of the Waimate Gorge and the Ngaio Track which leds up into Studholm’s Bush Reserve
When everyone else arrived at the Gorge about 10:30am we shouldered our packs for the short but sharp uphill climb to the ridge top that led to the White Horse monument – seeing 3 wallabies hopping off into the bush along the way. Lots of native plantings growing at the bottom end of the track.
Once on top of the ridge we met up with the junction of the Bellbird Track and the Link Track. We took the Link Track and walked along the ridge beside the netting fence of the Eco Sanctuary getting good views of the surrounding countryside.
We stopped at the White Horse carpark at 12pm for lunch – it was a bit more exposed up here with a light but cool breeze.
After lunch we moved onto the Big Easy cycle trail for the downhill section. Here the track was a bit slippery after some recent rain. There was also evidence of recent earthworks and improvemnts made to the track.
There was no hurry and we had a gentle walk down stopping for a feed of yellow banana passionfruit growing beside the track – pity to see it growing there as it will quickly take over the native forest.
Once back to the car park at Te Kiteroa there was a quick car shuttle followed by a hot drink at a local cafe in Waimate.