And the dog came too... dog walks in New Zealand
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Waikenae River Walk

A long and interesting walk along the Waikenae River, leading to an important nature reserve at the western end

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Waikenae River Walk

Name
Waikenae River Walk
Location
Waikenae
Co-ordinates
1773261  5472240
Alternative co-ordinates
1770188  5472898
Configuration
Linear (with option of loop)
Distance
7 km one-way
Status
On-leash
Grade
Easy
Access
Probably the best way to walk this path is from  east to west, so that reaching the Waikenae Estuary feels like an ending. Walking this way also allows you to keep open the option of extending the walk along the Estuary Link Track. The problem with this strategy is that it's quite difficult to find a convenient parking place at its eastern end, in Wakenae. Edgewater Park is perhaps the best spot. This can be reached by taking Fleetwood Grove off Te Moana Road. From the west, Otaihanga Domain, on Makora Road, is a good starting point.
Description
The Waikanae River Trail, and the Estuary Link Walk at its western end, are well worth a visit. As well as providing a long and easy walk through some pleasant countryside, they give the chance for a rewarding encounter with nature. Along the trail, you'll see willows, young native planting, and lagoons. And in the estuary  you'll be walking through saltmarsh that's omnhabited by a rich birdlife including spoonbills, dotterel, dabchick and oyster catchers. One-way this walk is about 7km, but you can turn it into a loop walk of about 10 km by using the bridge in Otiangha Reserve as a turning point.
Connecting tracks
 
Further information
https://www.wellingtonnz.com/visit/trails/waikanae-river-trail
If you've found this website helpful, you might also want to look at some of my novels and poetry. These, like my dog-walking, are drawn from a love of nature and the countryside. To learn more, click here.