Queen Elizabeth Park to the Wellington hills

Saturday 26th March 47.8 kms 8.75 hrs

Off on a drizzly morning down the coastal side of Queen Elizabeth Park as the good metalled track wandered up and down and around the sandhills. Leaving the park the trail followed the coastal road through Paekakariki to take me onto the section of SH1 that is almost in the sea. Still drizzly at times, until after I had reached Pukerua Bay and climbed up and over the hill there.

Then the trail took me up further onto a high point with some great views, especially as I was coming down into Plimmerton - looking down along Porirua Harbour in a splendid mixed sunny and cloudy landscape. So down to the sea again and around through Mana and Paremata to a lunch stop at a pleasant Aotea Lagoon - so close to a busy road, but hidden away so that you would not know it is there.

Then on through Porirua itself and up into the hills behind - hundreds of steps took me up through and out of the bush, leading to Colonial Knob. I must return there when there is no cloud about, since then the views would be superb. So down through a steep and slippery section of pine trees to Ohariu Valley - along the road to the end of Rifle Range Rd ready for tomorrow's final north island section. Horse lovers' heaven around here.