Weekend at Kaitoke

We have enjoyed the long three day Labour Weekend at Kaitoke Regional Park with our caravan club.  People with long memories will have known it as Waterworks in earlier years.  The park covers 2860 hectares in the foothills of the Tararua Ranges.  Nearby by

the fork of the Pakuratahi and and Hutt River is a podocarp broadleaf rainforest typical to the original coverage in the Akatarawa and Hutt Valleys, and birdlife is abundant.  So much so that we had to compete with the noisy birds twittering away when we were sitting outside in the early evenings!

It was a long three day weekend and the park was full to bursting with hoards of happy campers.  Some in caravans and campervans like us, and lots of people in tents too.  Family groups with kids and dogs, young people in loud cars, even a gaggle of girls arrived to set up their tents.  We arranged our vans in a circle, giving ourselves a nice area in the middle  to gather in. 

The weather gods smiled on us for the first day and most of us got a touch of sunburn on our exposed arms and legs!  Then things cooled down, the gusty wind arrived, together with some rain.  Thank goodness we weren't tenting.  There would be nothing worse than wet kids and dogs running in and out of a small tent, would there.

Last of the Summer Wine perhaps?

There was a lot planned for this weekend away, and we all enjoyed lunch out at Aston Norwood Café just a short car trip away.  This establishment has beautiful gardens, and I loved the decorative bicycle in the entranceway.

Beautiful blossoms

Helen and Owen, Rally Captains, and us, ready for our lunch

Another highlight was an evening spent on the river bed when we toasted marshmallows over the embers of a fire. Th fire was hard to start, and Owen had to resort to kneeling down and blowing hard to get it going.  And he told us he used to be in the cubs, but it looks like he didn’t get his fire starting badge.

Blow harder, Owen

With a lot of help and encouragement, the fire finally got underway.  Pat helped with chopping the kindling, and we waited for the fire to die down so we could toast the marshmallows over the embers.

Such good fun, and it was nice to see several family groups nearby all doing the same.  Mind you, the gusty wind was blowing the smoke all over the place, and we all  came away smelling of wood smoke!

Down by the river bank

Park Ranger Steve came and gave our group a very interesting talk all about the history of the park.  In 1939 the untouched forests of Kaitoke Regional Park and the Hutt Waters Collection Area were purchased to supply water to the Wellington Region.  Today the area supplies water to Upper Hutt, Porirua and Wellington.  The park is also popular for day trippers for picnic and swimming, and for overnight camping, as we enjoyed this weekend.  The friendly ranger was bursting with enthusiasm, loves his job and the beautiful area, and lives on site with is family. 

Morning talk by the Ranger

By this time the rain had set in and our evening BBQ took place under our awning, and we ate indoors.

BBQ time

Some of the campers had packed up and gone home with the change of weather, and we did wonder how the  young girls  in their tents would last after a night of heavy rain.  Thank goodness we were well off the damp ground and safe from the rain in our vans.