Te Araroa Walkway
Open access for everyone
The ambitious Te Araroa project aims to create a walking trail the length of the country.
The walking trail will create a legal thoroughfare from Cape Reinga to Bluff.
Te Araroa Trust CEO Geoff Chapple says the group’s target is a legal thoroughfare from Cape Reinga to Bluff by the end of 2008.
The entire trail will cost $8.4 million, but a $100,000 ASB Trusts grant in 2005 helped toward work on the northern leg of the trail, from Cape Reinga to Mercer.
This 712km section is about 25% of the track’s total length, and is expected to cost $1.8 million.
The route begins at Cape Reinga, goes down Ninety Mile Beach, crosses from Ahipara to Kerikeri through four DOC forests, to Whangarei, then mainly follows the coast to Auckland. South of Auckland, the trail unwinds through the Hunua Ranges, then cuts along the Mangatawhiri River to Mercer.
Work began on the northern leg in 2002, when Te Araroa Trust completed a 15km trail across the Herekino Forest inland from Ahipara.
Another four connecting trails have been completed since, using a mix of volunteer and paid labour.
The trust has put in 295km of new trail along its proposed New Zealand-long route.
The new tracks link to existing DOC and local and regional authority tracks and coastline, making over 60% of the proposed route already walkable.
The project meets our funding criteria because it protects and enhances the environment by educating people about our natural heritage.
The recreation, leisure and health benefits associated with walking also match our key objectives in other sectors.
It’s part of the Trust’s legacy for the region.
Footnote: in May 2006 the ASB Community Trust approved a $1.7m grant to the Te Araroa Trust, giving it sufficient funds over three years to complete the northern leg Cape Reinga to Mercer to tramping track standard.