The Otaika Valley Walkway offers you a variety of landscapes, including dense and regenerating forest, farmland, and suburban streets.

It is recommended that you start this walk from the signposted car park on Otaika Valley Road.

The track rises up steeply from the Otaika Valley stream. Once on the ridge, there are good viewing areas offering expansive views of Maungatapere and northwest Northland. There is also a seat along the ridgeline (264 m above sea level) that gives fantastic rural views of Otaika Valley.

The track drops off the ridgeline and crosses over several small streams. Vegetation in this area is mostly regenerating kauri, tanekaha, and totara.

The reserve finishes at the kissing gate. Here you can return via the same track.

Alternatively you can continue on across open pasture, following the orange posts, until you reach Raumanga Heights Drive. You could arrange to have two cars, one at either end of the track. 

Otaika Valley Road runs between Loop Road, off SH1, 10 minutes south of Whangārei, and Maungatapere.

Once on Otaika Valley Road, look out for the sign indicating the track entrance. There is parking on the opposite side of the road.

• The farmland is grazed and there is ongoing development in the area - leave gates as you find them and remain on the marked route.
• The track can be slippery when wet.
• Wasps and wasp nests may be present in this area.