Stepout in Hawke’s Bay
Whetheryoulike adventuringontwolegs ortwowheels, Hawke’sBayhasplenty of trails to explore, with places to stop forwineorphotoopportunities alongtheway, writes AlanGranville.
Hawke’s Bay is gifted with dozens of safe, mostly flat trails for all types of fitness. The region’s renowned cycling network covers nearly 200 kilometres between the Pacific Ocean and mountains.
From casual walkers to hardcore mountainbikers, there is something for everyone. Here are just 10 to try out.
Walking Lake Tūtira
There are plenty of trails for all levels of fitness in and around Lake Tūtira.
The popular fishing spot is also a bird sanctuary with an abundance of wildlife, including black swans, white-face herons and fantails.
Shorter walks, including the 1km Waikōpiro Loop and 5km Tūtira Walkway, give amazing views across the lake and hill country to the Kaweka Range. Longer tramps include visits to the Table Mountain trig station. The tracks are closed for lambing in August and September.
More details at doc.govt.nz.
Sunrise Track
This is one the region’s most popular tracks. It’s a good one for families with children and new trampers.
The 5.2km trail snakes its way through changing forest types, and offers some great views of the Hawke’s Bay plains.
Sunrise Hut is high in the Ruahine Range, and in a tussock basin beside the bush edge at 1280 metres. As the name suggests, it’s a great place to watch the sun come up.
Behind the hut is a 30-minute route where you can see Mt Ruapehu on a fine day.
More details at doc.govt.nz.
Lake Waikaremoana
A three-hour drive from Napier in Te Urewera is the large and deep Lake Waikaremoana, the North Island’s fourth-largest body of water.
An ancient petrified forest sits beneath the water’s surface, and the lake is surrounded by one of the North Island’s largest untouched native forests.
The 46km one-way Lake Waikaremoana Track is one of New Zealand’s most remote Great Walks.
It’s a three- to four-day hike, which follows the southern and western coast of the lake.
Just a note though, the track and lake are both currently closed to the public, so this is one to look out for in the future.
More details at doc.govt.nz.
Cycling Tukituki Trail
A must for walkers and cyclists, these trails can be taken as leisurely as you like, or in the case of mountainbikers, as strenuously as you want.
The 60km trail along the Tukituki River is undergoing improvements, including the construction of a new 50mswing bridge.
Running between Waipukurau and Waipawa, it offers a wide variety of sights, as well as easy riding and walking.
Make sure you get time to check out the