Whether you’re stretching your legs after a long drive or you’re camping nearby, Wendy Montrose found a mix of 5km short walks to suit most fitness levels and interests.
No matter where you are in New Zealand, there’s a place nearby where you can enjoy a bit of fresh air and some great scenery. While we’re heading into warmer days, always remember to venture out prepared for weather changes, wear strong shoes and take water, just in case.
1. Auckland. Hobsonville Point. Coastal walkway:
Easy: 1 ½ hour loop. Once home to an air force base, Hobsonville Point is now a residential suburb with a unique looping walkway. Parking is available at the information centre and Bomb Point or you can avoid the traffic altogether and treat yourself to a 40 minute ferry ride from downtown Auckland. It’s possible to start the walk straight off the ferry. Download a map or pick one up at the Catalina Café, where you’ll find a tempting range of coffee and cakes. The walk takes you along the harbour edge, through quiet bush valleys, past playgrounds for the kids and a dog exercise park. Check out the old munitions stores and art installations at Bomb Point and on weekends, the Catalina Bay Farmers Market.
2. Raglan / Whāingaroa. Harbour to surf:
Easy: 1 ½ hours return. Since the 1960s, Raglan has evolved from a sleepy fishing village into a surfing mecca and seaside retreat. There’s still a village feel though, with a pleasant stroll taking you through town and along the edge of the harbour to the pounding Tasman Sea. On a hot day, start with a treat from the Gelato Cart on Wallis Street. Cross the footbridge to Te Kopua Beach and walk on firm black sand past the holiday park and the airfield to the harbour mouth, a perfect spot to watch the sun descend into the sea. Dogs on leads are welcome and there are public toilets at the surf end.
3. Rotorua. Blue Lake Tikitapu Track, Tarawera Road:
Easy: 1 ½ hour loop. Just over 5km long, this track circles Blue Lake/Tikitapu, only 13km from Rotorua. With an area of 1.4 square km, Tikitapu is popular with boaties, jetskiers and rowers. The clear blue lake’s long white sand beach is across the road from a Top 10 Holiday Park. Start the track on the lakefront and get the road edge over early, walking so you can see the traffic. A lookout gives views over both Tikitapu and the sacred Rotokākahi/Green Lake next door, before you pass through native bush, exotic conifers and more sandy beaches perfect for swimming. There are public toilets and picnic spots with barbecues, and dogs on leads are permitted.
4. Wellington. Eastern Walkway Loop:
Easy/Moderate: 2 – 2 ½ hours. Traversing Miramar Peninsula, this walk takes you from Tarakena Bay to the Pass of Branda (or vice versa) with stunning views on a clear day over Te Whanganui-a-tara/Wellington Harbour and Te Moana-o-Raukawa/Cook Strait to the top of the South Island. The Miramar predator control programme has resulted in an explosion of birdlife so if you can drag your eyes away from the view, look out for tui, waxeyes, little blue penguins and others. You’ll pass the Atatürk Memorial and Māori historical sites while an easy side trip to Oruaiti, Point Dorset takes in WW11 gun emplacements and observation posts. Either return along the same route or drop down to the road and walk back along the harbour edge.
For more information, visit wellington.govt.nz/recreation/ outdoors/walks-and-walkways
5. Cape Farewell. Wharariki Beach Loop:
Easy/Moderate: 2 hrs. This wild and scenic stretch of coastline boasts weather carved rock formations, the Archway Islands and at half tide or lower, caves to explore. You might even be lucky enough to spot baby seals frolicking in rock pools. The car park is past the campground at the end of Wharariki road with basic public toilets and a mapboard showing the walking tracks. For the loop walk, begin by following the Puponga Farm Track and cross to the Stone Bridge Beach. It will be much windier on the beach and you’ll appreciate having the wind at your back for this section. Take something warm. Return to the carpark via the Wharariki Beach Track. Swimming is not recommended – there are strong currents and rips in the area and remember to give seals space; they pop up in the most unexpected places.
6. Nelson Lakes. Lake Rotoiti Loop Track:
Easy/Moderate: 1 ½ hours. Nestled below mountains in the 102,000 hectare Nelson Lakes National Park, Lake Rotoiti is surrounded by red beech forest ringing with birdsong. Starting on the Honeydew Track at the eastern end of Kerr Bay, the track climbs a series of terraces before dropping back to the lake for the return. Keep an eye out for bellbirds and tui and red and yellow mistletoe flowers in December and January. Back at Kerr Bay, check out the eels under the boat ramp.
7.Wanaka. Mount Iron:
Easy/Moderate: 1 ½ hour loop. At 250 meters, the rocky mound called Mount Iron rises across the road from Puzzling World on SH84. From the summit there are 360° views starting with lakes Wanaka and Hawea. Surrounded by snowy peaks and deep valleys, thankfully there are informative panels to tell you what you’re looking at, including the Pisa Range and the Southern Alps. Take a picnic, refuel and drink in the views. At the very least you should have water and wear good shoes. It can be a bit of a slog with an uneven surface that is loose in places but it’s well worth the effort.
8.Southland. Waituna Lagoon Wetland Loop Track:
Easy: 1 ½ hour loop. A wetland of international importance, you’ll find Awarua- Waituna Wetland 40km southeast of Invercargill off the Southern Scenic Route. Birdlife is abundant with more than 80 different resident or visiting species breeding and/or feeding in the area. The track is easy walking on boardwalk and gravel with interpretation panels and rest stops along the way. You’ll marvel at the diversity of birdlife and vegetation covering bog, peatland and coastal fringe. The track is exposed to the southern coast so dress warm. Find out more at: waituna.org.nz
