Orokawa Bay: picnic perfect

A couple of people had recommended the walk from the north end of Waihi Beach to Orokawa Bay after I'd told them I was heading to the beach for a long weekend.

I was told the views along the coast are spectacular and someone else told me he'd heard Orokawa Bay was popular with nudists. Taking that with latter snippet with a grain of salt, I set off before the day got too hot.

Accessing the start of the track means a walk around the north end of Waihi Beach which, at or near high tide, means getting your shoes wet so check the tide times before you set out.

You scramble up a rocky outcrop to begin with and parts of the track are uneven so it's not suitable for strollers or young children. In saying that, I saw plenty of families on the way with children aged about 5-7 who seemed to cope reasonably well. One little guy had a tramping pole to help him along.

The walk winds up through the bush, heading north. Parts lead through beautiful, cool bush while other sections offer stunning views across the water to Mayor Island and, on the way back, looking south to Waihi Beach and down to Mount Maunganui.

Further on towards Orokawa Bay, there are plenty of dusty, exposed sections of the track that wind past gorse and scrub.

I'd worn my togs under my shorts and T-shirt and had hoped to have a swim when I got there. But I found the drop-off into the water is steep and the surf was fierce, so I decided not to risk it. However, a couple of families who'd set up on the beach and the half a dozen kids were splashing about in a large, shallow pool of sea water on the beach away from the surf.

There are stands of pohutakawa along the beach offering plenty of shade and lots of places to lay out a picnic lunch. And there were no naked sunbathers to be seen anywhere!

You could then head back to Waihi Beach or, if you're up to it, head further north on a two-hour trek to Homunga Bay. I'm told that track has been re-conditioned following a major downpour and offers spectacular views and interesting terrain. Good footwear and a day pack are essential for the Homunga Bay journey.

Getting there: Park at the north end of Waihi Beach and walk around the tip of beach to the base of the track (it's all signposted).

Type of track: Uneven in places, it ranges from an easy bush stroll to reasonably steep, dusty parts that will get your thighs burning just a bit. Wear walking shoes and take plenty of water if it's a hot day as much of the track towards Orokawa Bay is exposed to the elements.

Time: A bit over an hour and a half return - longer with young kids in tow! Take a picnic to enjoy on the beach or beneath the pohutakawas above the beach.