Starting at Little Shoal Bay, we walked on the freshly salt-burned grass from the recent high tides, over the bridge into Le Roys Bush, and up along the tracks, admiring the 20-metre-high waterfall as we passed and onto the new board-walked area to Hinemoa Street.
    At the council stream-fish research area we spotted one of the native fish! At the lookout, we admired the stunning views across the treetops where we’d just walked.
    We were tempted to stop at the cafe but, being good trampers, we kept walking towards the Chelsea Sugar Refinery’s new walking bridge and past their grounds to head back into the bush towards Kendall Bay and Kauri Point.
    We were feeling the heat and humidity, so the cloud cover was welcome. We stopped to admire the view back across the Harbour Bridge, and passed a family that had been for a swim at gorgeous Kendall Bay. Although tempted to do the same, we took photos instead. We still had the steps to take on up to Onetaunga Road, with early lunch in the shade.
    We headed back into the bush along the surreal little pathways and bridges by the gently trickling stream to Mappin Place, stopping to admire the two large kauri before reaching the Birkenhead War Memorial Park. Then into Kauri Glen and along the oak-tree lined path back to Le Roys Bush and the cars.
    We had the company of gently trickling streams alongside us most of the day, but the ground was surprisingly dry in all bar a few places, including one small slip.
    It was a pleasure to find an urban walk that had lovely secluded areas of bush and forest, where we could almost forget we were in suburbia.