Walk #2 , 22nd April 2025

The walk began at Rarangi Beach, where the Monkey Bay track is. It climbed steeply through regenerating coastal forest where the trees had recovered from a fire. We came out on the Port Underwood road for a short distance, then descended through an area of pine forest to Whites Bay.

Whites Bay is named after a negro American whaler, Black Jack White.

In 1866 the first Cook Strait telegraph link between the North and South Islands began operating with the southern end coming ashore at Whites Bay. The telegraph operator’s cottage is preserved as a historic building. Source: Marlborough Online, Pukatea / Whites Bay

It’s a solid grind back up to Port Underwood road from the beach. We saw a black fantail while climbing back up the pine needle covered zig-zag track.

Walk: Blenheim #9