Monday Walkers
Unfazed by the rain the intrepid Monday walkers last Monday headed to the Mokaihaha Ecological area near Mamaku. Not only does this 2137ha area contain trails used by Ma¯ ori enroute to Rotorua from the Waikato but also has unlogged areas of New Zealand native trees including large podocarps. We walked through the bush to West Rd, with most returning to a fork in the track and then on to Lake Rotohakahaka skirting along a ledge track above the water’s edge before exiting the bush. Rimu, matai, miro and totara towered above the many tree ferns and while we heard the kaka call, only a few sharp-eyed travellers caught sight of the parrot with its underbelly of crimson sitting in a tree above us. Conservation work and pest trapping is carried out with the aim of increasing the bird population including the blue wattled kokako known to exist in the area. The undergrowth was a mycologist heaven. On a recent recce to the reserve we saw clusters of entoloma hochstetteri or werewere kokako, the little sky blue fungi that feature on our $50. On our walk we saw huge twotoned and black bracket fungi, pale blue spindle pouched fungi, tiny stalked yellow fungi and even decaying trunks covered in the ear like hakeke. It was important not to become distracted with sighting these treasures as the track had a series of slippery up and down sections and is heavily rooted. Next week we have a shorter bush walk closer to home. For information email walkersmondaytaupo@gmail.com or visit Facebook @Taupo Monday Walkers.