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by SCOTT SIMPSON
Some of the Coromandel’s secret places aren’t
that secret at all.
Recently I had a chance to revisit one of
my childhood haunts, and in doing so
rediscovered a wonderful local track right at
Whitianga’s front door.
The ferry ride between Whitianga and Ferry
Landing is an iconic part of the whole Mercury
Bay experience. For the vast majority of us
making the short trip across the ‘river’, we are
usually hurrying on our way to one place or
another. How many of us have actually taken
the time to stop and explore the area, like the
little pathway on the Ferry Landing side that
leads up to the historic ‘Whitianga Rock’. On a
recent visit I did exactly that.
As children, my brother, sister and assorted
cousins would often head up to the top of the
rock on great adventures. We would make the
trip over on the ferry from the town side and
then head along the foreshore pathway, under
low hanging pohutakawa and up the well-
formed track towards the rock itself.
Not much has changed over the years. The
pathway is as enticing and enchanting as it
ever was. On this glorious autumn afternoon,
the memories came flooding back. This trip I
was with locals from Tairua, making the short
20 minute walk for the first time. I delighted in
sharing my stories from days gone by.
Today the reserve is maintained to a high
standard by the Department of Conservation.
The walk itself is not difficult. Only the most
basic level of fitness is required for the gentle
stroll to the summit. Up from the foreshore,
walkers pass a stretch of grassy open space
that provides a tantalising taste of the view yet
to come from higher beyond. Another couple of
minutes up some steps actually carved out of
the rock itself, and you are at the top.
There’s something very satisfying about
climbing – even something as gentle as the
Whitianga Rock. The vista is expansive and
magnificent. There simply isn’t a better place
to get a view over the river and Whitianga with
Buffalo Beach stretching out in front. And by
turning around, you’re provided with a stunning
look down onto Back Bay, a sheltered area
where the European sailors would anchor to
repair their ships.
In today’s age of social media and phone
cameras, there can hardly be a better ‘selfie’
location anywhere in Mercury Bay. On the way
back down we took the short diversion along
the board walk to Back Bay. Time was against
us, but if there had been more, we could easily
have continued on toward Front Beach
.
On this lovely autumn afternoon, our exploring
adventure took less than an hour, but we felt
like we’d spent the whole day there. People
say the Coromandel is “good for your soul”
and it’s visiting gems like Whitianga Rock that
make it true. Being so accessible, so little
visited and yet right on our doorstep makes it
even more special.
I’ve made a promise to myself not to wait so
long before I visit again. I hope you will too.
This fun little walk to Whitianga Rock is
definitely worth missing a ferry for!
Elected Member of Parliament for Coromandel
in November 2011, Hon Scott Simpson MP
also serves as Minister of Statistics, Associate
Minister of Immigration and Associate Minister
for the Environment.
Scott has deep family ties to the Whitianga
area spanning back four generations. His
great-grandparents arrived in Kuaotunu in
the mid-1800s, and members of his extended
family still farm in the area. Although now
living in Thames, Scott has owned a home in
Kuaotunu for over 20 years.
Prior to election, Scott was CEO of children’s
charity Make-a-Wish NZ, and also served as
branch chairman for Red Cross, as well as
chair for the Distribution Committee of the
Lottery Grants Board.
Scott has a strong business and commercial
background having previously worked as NZ
General Manager for Protector Safety, HPM
and Caroma Industries.
A graduate of Auckland University, Scott
is a Justice of the Peace and member of
the Institute of Directors. He has two adult
children, and outside interests include trying to
keep fit, reading, family time and, of course ...
hiking and exploring the Coromandel!
In this pristeen protected area of bush, you
may catch a glimpse of some of the same
native birds Cook and Banks would have
encountered on their early expeditions,
such as the tui, kereru (wood pigeon),
piwakawaka (fantail). The tiny bellbird with
its khaki colouring is also a regular visitor
to this area, and there are few tunes more
delightful or distinctive.
Just before reaching the pa, the trail
passes through the yard of a home
and B&B once owned by Rob and Pam
Wigmore (descendants of one of Hahei’s
founding families). According to Pam, this
area is a birdlover’s paradise. Thrush and
starlings would build their nests every year
in the bougainvillea and jasmine vines
adorning their pergola.
Birds on the rock
Perhaps you’ll hear the haunting calls of the
extremely shy Summer immigrant, the shining
cuckoo, which breed only in NZ. They also
‘foster out’ their eggs, depositing them in a
thrush nest, pushing the nest owner’s eggs out.
You may also see both forest and shore birds
such as the gulls, pied shag, oyster catcher
(pictured), kingfisher, blue heron, wild duck,
gannet, blackbird, silvereye, sparrow, grey
warbler, black-backed gull, dotterrel, pukeko,
parakeets, and even the occasional pheasant.
At night you may hear the mournful call of the
ruru (morepork) or even the screech of our most
prized icon – the kiwi. Nocturnal in habit and
rarely seen in the wild, they have been reported
coming out of bushy areas into clearings to
feed and call to their mates.
WWW.COROMANDELLIFE.CO.NZ19
photo by Ian Patrick