CRUISE TO WAIHEKE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21333, 7 November 1932, Page 10

CRUISE TO WAIHEKE

"MYSTERY" EXCURSION TRAMPING AND BATHING A successful "mystery" cruise was conducted on the excursion steamer Duchess yesterday, the venture being the first of such a nature in New Zealand. About 400 people found diversion in the novelty of a sea journey in addition to an opportunity to take part in an organised tramp through excellent scenery on Waiheke Island. Tho Duchess left Auckland for Matiatia, Waiheke Island, where tho ordinary passengers disembarked at 10.45 a.m., the trampers remaining on board. The vessel left port for sea, but, cB Matiatia Heads two shots were fired across the bow from a launch, and the Dnchess hove-to. An amusing incident followed when a quaintly-dressed figure came on board tho Duchess from the launch, and engaged in an "altercation" with the master, Captain Wann. The upshot was that Captain Wann pushed the intruder overboard, but not before the visitor succeeded in handing him sealed orders. Information about the "mystery" cruise was also distributed among the passengers, and it then became known that Omiha, on the Tamaki Strait side of Waiheke, was the destination of the vessel. After lunch at Omiha special guides led the trampers along the Omiha Road to a bridle track winding through native bush. Undulating country was covered until the Onetangi Road was reached, and the trampers t lien turned toward Ostend and Palm Beach. From elevated portions of the country magnificent views of the Ilauraki Gulf were obtained. The party was led eventually to Oneroa Beach, on the ocean side of Waiheke, where many enjoyed bathing. On tho return journey the trampers left Oneroa for Matiatia, where the Duchess was waiting. Tho vessel returned to Auckland at 8 p.m.