Maungaturoto
There’s nothing special about the walkway in Maungaturoto – it’s just a simple track, ambling through farmland, with pleasant views towards the Brynderwyn Hills. But it’s one of those facilities that it’s good to have, because it provides a rare opportunity to take a countryside walk, not only for locals but also for car-pent travellers (and their dogs). It’s also a good example of community effort: the land belongs to the local Country Club, the skills and labour were partly provided by children from the nearby high school; the users seem to be a mixed bunch.
We can start the walk at either end – from the Country Club carpark at the north, or the small car parking area opposite the school, to the south. From the latter, we enter a field through a swing gate, then bear right across the pasture. After 100 metres, the path swings left and then runs the path runs with nothing more than a short slope to worry us, northwards for about 1 km until we reach a gravel track. On the way, we pass through a couple of small areas of bush, and several kissing gates (local rules are that the person in front has to wait and kiss the one behind), while to our right are the mangroves that line the Otamatea River.
Across the track there's a flight of steps that takes us up onto the next part of the walk. We loop down towards the river, then away again and uphill in a long curve that eventually brings us to a rustling avenue of poplars and then to the entrance road to the Country Club. Here, we turn right and go out onto Bickerstaffe Road, then follow this left for about 500 metres back to our start-point.
Like other things in life, this walkway is changing. For its 150th anniversary (November 2013), the walkway is being extended southwards a short way to a newly constructed wharf and picnic area, overlooking the Otamatea - an ideal spot for lunch, or just to sit and contemplate.
We can start the walk at either end – from the Country Club carpark at the north, or the small car parking area opposite the school, to the south. From the latter, we enter a field through a swing gate, then bear right across the pasture. After 100 metres, the path swings left and then runs the path runs with nothing more than a short slope to worry us, northwards for about 1 km until we reach a gravel track. On the way, we pass through a couple of small areas of bush, and several kissing gates (local rules are that the person in front has to wait and kiss the one behind), while to our right are the mangroves that line the Otamatea River.
Across the track there's a flight of steps that takes us up onto the next part of the walk. We loop down towards the river, then away again and uphill in a long curve that eventually brings us to a rustling avenue of poplars and then to the entrance road to the Country Club. Here, we turn right and go out onto Bickerstaffe Road, then follow this left for about 500 metres back to our start-point.
Like other things in life, this walkway is changing. For its 150th anniversary (November 2013), the walkway is being extended southwards a short way to a newly constructed wharf and picnic area, overlooking the Otamatea - an ideal spot for lunch, or just to sit and contemplate.
SummaryLocation: On Bickerstaff Road, off Hurndall Street (SH12) on the east side of Maungaturoto
Access: Main entry points at the Country Club (to the north) or opposite Otamatea High School or by the wharf (to the south). Length: 3.5 km Configuration: Loop Grade: Gently undulating; gravel surface and short road section Status: on leash (closed ca. 2 months per year for lambing) Cafes and restaurants: Beejays and Sugarbelle cafes, and Maungaturoto Hotel in Maungaturoto (ca. 1.0 km) For more information: http://maungaturoto.homestead.com/Location.html |
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