Earth Day Hike – Adventures on the Ōmanawanui Track

In Mid-April, to Celebrate Earth Day, We Set Off on a Hike with Our Enthusiastic Community MembersWe wanted to spend a sunny Saturday together in nature, and we chose the Ōmanawanui Track, located about an hour from Auckland.

Even the drive there turned out to be an adventure — a winding gravel road led us to the starting point of the hike, where two cars could barely pass each other. We hadn’t even started the climb when the youngest member of our group, Márk, got stung by a bee. There were tears, a bit of panic, and a swelling hand, but he bravely pulled himself together, and in the end, we all set off on the trail.

We packed our backpacks with snacks, sunscreen, hats, and gave our hiking shoes a quick clean. Soon we were standing at the base of the first seemingly never-ending flight of stairs. We hadn’t walked long when one of the kids shouted, “I’m hungry!”That was the cue to bring out the first motivational snack packs. Biscuits and fruit gave us the energy to keep climbing. We chatted and laughed — at least when we weren’t gasping for breath, because the stairs tested both kids’ and adults’ legs alike.

When we started to feel really tired, Viki, Anna, and I hugged a few trees. When I was a kid, my homeroom teacher used to say that hugging trees gives you energy. Who knows if it really works — but the children hugged them happily and then ran up the stairs with renewed strength.

Eventually, we reached the summit.The view was stunning — the distant ocean shimmered in the sunlight, green hills spread out below us, and the blue sky and warm sun only enhanced the experience. We rested on a bench, ate, drank, and of course, took a group photo as proof that we had truly conquered the top.

On the way down, everyone debated whether the ascent or descent was harder.That’s when the kids spotted a tiny lizard on the edge of the path. Not only did they see it — they caught it! They named it George, and we all unanimously agreed we wouldn’t leave him behind. So George joined us for the rest of the hike, crawling from hand to hand.Later, he even got his own box — complete with an apple core, just in case he got hungry.

When we returned to the carpark, the kids begged us not to leave just yet. So, we grabbed our picnic gear and headed to the nearby beach. We finished off the remaining snacks, and then the shell-collecting and beach exploring began.The girls were especially proud of the beautiful purple shells they found.Dani, inspired by a sudden burst of energy, decided he wanted to go swimming. He dashed into the water without a second thought — even though his clothes were soaked — and joyfully splashed in the waves.

Later that afternoon, we played ball, ran around, and of course kept an eye on George, who by then had become a fully accepted member of the community.

We spent a truly full and joyful day together — kids, adults, and one little lizard.Thank you to everyone who joined us, and we can say for sure: there will definitely be more hikes like this in the future!

Fanni Csényi