10 participants gathered at the Brook Sanctuary Visitors Centre, paid their entry fees and set off just after 9am for a walk in the Sanctuary. We headed up on Koru Track through regenerating bush initially then into mixed podocarp and beech forest. We sidled along the hillside for some time then had a short descent to Ferny flat that brought is to Brook Creek. We followed this on the Upper Vally Track, crossing the shallow creek many times. It was cool and shaded, but we eventually found a sunny spot in a creek bed and had morning tea.

From here it was a short steep climb up to the Sanctuary perimeter. We had an early lunch at Third House, then walked along a trapping line between Toutouwai and Kakariki Spurs. It was then a hike along the road outside the Sanctuary to the highest point for the day at Tuatara Spur (786M). We enjoyed views to Mt Richmond and Mt Fishtail from the road. The highlight for most was the walk down Tuatara Spur – we stopped often to enjoy the birdsong and lingered on the lower end of the craggy spur to enjoy the massive floral display of the NZ native orchid Earina autumnalis.

We reached the Valley floor and a bridged crossing of the creek, followed by a short climb up to meet Koru Track again. Not far from the VC we took the Jacobs Ladder track to get back to the valley floor again and were able to observe the 3 Kaka in their cage, through the tastefully design viewing wall screen. We were back to the VC at 3.30.

It was a “Walk in the park” literally, but not figuratively, as it was a decent, med grade workout. We had changed from a Sunday tramp to Saturday and as a consequence, had a warm sunny day instead of the steady rain that came on Sunday.

Participants were: Heidi, Michele, Marie, Stephen, Anne, Veronica, Kath (Leader and scribe) and visitors Jenny, Andrea and Jess.