This is a low tide foreshore route taking in some of our local beauty spots, linked by less well visited sections of beach and rock shelf, making a fun day walk, with views down the Gulf and across to the Kawau Bay islands throughout (weather gods willing!).

The bus will drop us off at Martins Bay car park and we set off along the beach to the north end, up through the bush on to the cliff top loop path with its wide views over the Gulf. A short downhill section takes us into Scandrett Regional Park, where we can pause to take a look at the historic Scandrett farm buildings, dating back to 1864 when George and Helena Scandrett from Northern Ireland settled there and established their farm, and built along with the agricultural sheds, one of New Zealand’s first concrete dwellings.

We continue along the beach, and at the north west end, round the rock shelves at the headland to Goldsworthy bay. Goldsworthy itself is privately owned, and may remind you of the Kiwi coastal settlements as they were in days gone by. More rock shelves at the north west headland take us Algies Bay . Somewhere along this stretch we find a pohutukawa to sit under for our lunch stop.

Heading north again we reach Snells Beach and at its north end we round the headland to Brick Bay. We head inland then on a bush track, up and over to Sandspit where the bus will be waiting for us. If we are short of time or tide, we may finish at Brick Bay.

Please note that this is not a walk on Kawau Island, it’s on the mainland, overlooking Kawau Bay. We expect to see various shore flora and fauna. Oyster catchers, likely dotterels, tui and kereru in the bush sections. Sometimes Orcas and dolphins are seen off these beaches. So if you like the

Smell of the sea and

The sound of the surf and

Sand between your toes.

this could be for you.

We will provide a pack lunch. You should come with strong walking shoes or boots with good grippy soles and walking poles if you need them for the various rock shelves, some which below the hide tide mark can be wet, muddy, slippery or sharp.

Start: at the new Masonic Lodge (above Westpac).

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