| A good easy beach walk in just about any tide (except in high seas) is
from Waitangi to Red Bluff. The 6 km to Red Bluff takes about 1.5-2
hours. From Te One, where beach access is possible, it is about a 1
hour walk to Waitangi. Seabirds, including giant petrels, are often
seen, as are Chatham Island oystercatchers. |
Waitangi |
|
Short walk - 10 minutes
Ocean Mail Scenic Reserve covers 831
ha of peat dome and wetland north of Te Whanga Lagoon. It also extends
over the road to Kaiangaroa to include 4 km of coastal dunes. A very
short track from the stile takes you to the dune edge and views of the
beach and sea. The Department of Conservation and community groups are
slowly replanting forest and coastal species in the area. The dune
edge is eroding so take care getting onto the beach.
A sign and
cattle stop indicate each end of the reserve on the north road to
Kaiangaroa, 12 km from the Wharekauri turn off. Around 2 km into the
reserve, a vehicle track to the north takes you to a stile over the
fence from which the beach can be accessed. There are good views of the
reserve from the elevated roadside. Around 4 km past the reserve, to
the right, is the turnoff right to Hapupu, and another 6 km away is the
township of Kaiangaroa. |
Ocean Mail beach |
|
|
Short Walk, 1.5 hours
The 170 ha Henga Scenic
Reserve features spectacular regeneration by kopi (karaka) and
mahoe, limestone outcrops and extensive dunes with endemic plants,
providing spectacular views over Petre Bay.
Henga Scenic Reserve is located on Chatham Island's west coast.
Proceed north from Waitangi township and take the North Road until just
past the airport, then turn off at the Chatham Lodge driveway on the
left. Public entry is provided by walking from the car park in front of
the lodge to the northern lawn where the track starts. From the
entrance into the reserve at the Chatham Lodge, enter the bush and head
west. A walk of around 45 min will take you out to the limestone
outcrops and on to the coastal dunes, then it's along the dunes towards
the south and then back through the bush in a wide loop to return to
the starting point. There's also a short loop that stays within the
lower forest, taking about 30 min to complete.
|
Henga |
|
Short walk - 10 min
One of only two national historic
reserves in New Zealand, the J.M. Barker (Hapupu) National Historic
Reserve protects Moriori rakau momori (tree carvings). There is a
10-minute bush walk through part of the reserve. The forest comprises
mature kopi forest with a dense understorey of mahoe saplings. Rakau
momori have been carved on the trunks of many kopi trees, some of which
can be seen on the bush walk. Permission must be obtained in advance if
photographs of the tree carvings are to be used for any public or
commercial purpose. Contact the Department of Conservation, Chatham
Island, for further information.
To get there, head north
from Waitangi on the North Road, turn right at the signposted turn-off
6 km from Kaingaroa. The reserve is at the end of the road adjacent to
the old Hapupu airstrip. |
Rakau momori
|
|
|
Short Walk - 1 hour
1.5 kilometres north of Blind Jim's Creek a roadside sign marks the access to the reserve. To reach the entrance, walk uphill for a kilometre following the fenceline marked with orange triangles to an entrance stile and sign.
Nikau Bush Conservation Area contains 19 hectares of lowland broadleaved forest. Regeneration has been prolific since the reserve was fenced. The nikau flowering in December and January is spectacular. A short track follows a loop through the forest and takes in some peaceful forest glades among lush regeneration beneath stately palms. |
|
