Kaitaia Walkway - route
Route
Time:
1.5 hr
Distance:
4 km
Getting there
You can find the walkway entrance by travelling south from Kaitaia on SH 1 for about 3 km. Turn right onto Larmer Road and follow it to its end. The track is signposted.
The exit of the walkway is at Veza Road, off Diggers Valley Road.
About the area
The Far North area of Kaitaia/Mangonui/Karikari is an area renowned for its role in New Zealand history for both Maori and Pakeha. It also includes some important habitats, which are home to rare and threatened plant and animal life.
This diverse area features broad beaches of white sand, rocky headlands and intimate sheltered bays rimmed with pohutukawa forest. The conservation values of this region, its lakes and surrounding ocean are high.
History
Archaeological evidence indicates the Far North was first settled by Polynesian ancestors of the Maori about 900 years ago. The region around Mangonui was well populated before the arrival of Europeans with archaeological sites revealing the extent of this settlement. A number of pa sites remain visible, well preserved and accessible to the public. Maori pa were fortified sites that provided protection in times of warfare, usually built on hills and headlands with good natural defences. These natural features were extended by man-made ditches, banks and palisades.
The region was important early during European contact. Both Cook and de Surville visited within days of each other in 1769, and in the early 1800’2 Mangonui was an important whaling and trading port.
The Dalmatian community around Ahipara were involved in the extraction of kauri gum.The gum was used for lacquers, paint and linoleum, and was also reputedly the best varnish in the world for musical instruments.
Description
Exit point of the Kaitaia Walkway at
Veza Rd, Diggers Valley
The track begins with an easy bush walk (Kaitaia Walkway - short walk) through broadleaf and podocarp forest along an old formed roadway. In summer, the lush forest canopy provides cooling shade.
After about 30 minutes you come to a junction:
- A 20-minute return walk up a steep narrow track takes you to a stunning kauri grove. Strewn on the forest floor underneath the kauri are pieces of kauri bark and you can take a moment to study their amazing shapes and patterns.
- A 15-minute return track takes you to a lookout point over the forest.
From here you can continue the Kaitaia Walkway on a route. The track climbs up to a saddle with a good lookout, and continues on to Veza Road.
Places to stay
This is a standard campsite in the Kaitaia area.
The campsite is located at the northern foot of Northland's Raetea Forest and is set in one of the last remaining lowland coastal forests.
This is a standard campsite in the Kaitaia area.
Plan and prepare
What to expect on a route:
- Challenging day or multi-day tramping/hiking
- Track unformed and natural, rough, muddy or very steep
- Suitable for people with above average fitness. High level backcountry skills and experience, including navigation and survival skills required
- Complete self sufficiency required
- Track has markers, poles or rock cairns. Expect unbridged stream and river crossings
- Sturdy tramping/hiking boots required
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