The main walk starts opposite Clarkin Road, and can be accessed from River Road near the bridge, or opposite Riverview Terrace, and takes around 15 minutes each way.
Showing posts with label Waikato: Walks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Waikato: Walks. Show all posts
Monday, June 13, 2011
The Fairfield Esplanade
Alongside the river, and passing under the Fairfield bridge is one of the newest parts of the Waikato River walk - the Fairfield Esplanade.
The main walk starts opposite Clarkin Road, and can be accessed from River Road near the bridge, or opposite Riverview Terrace, and takes around 15 minutes each way.
The main walk starts opposite Clarkin Road, and can be accessed from River Road near the bridge, or opposite Riverview Terrace, and takes around 15 minutes each way.
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Seaside at low tide
On a sunny autumn's day there are less choices than a sunny spring day, as the fields are still wet so many walks would become frolicks in mud.
Thankfully, the beach falls outside that category, and the nearby Wainui Beach, near Raglan was just the ticket today. A few km walk each way and a few photos at low tide made me feel much better.
Thankfully, the beach falls outside that category, and the nearby Wainui Beach, near Raglan was just the ticket today. A few km walk each way and a few photos at low tide made me feel much better.
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Pokaiwhenua Bridge River Trail
The Waikato River trails are a perennial favourite of mine. Today I decided to try out the newest addition to the set, that is the walk from the Pokaiwhenua bridge through to Arapuni.
Having said that, I was lazy, so probably only made it half the way through the walk. There are of course many neat views of the Waikato river to take in along the way:
Having said that, I was lazy, so probably only made it half the way through the walk. There are of course many neat views of the Waikato river to take in along the way:
Thursday, May 19, 2011
The Pureora Buried Forest
If you asked me about the most dull walk in the North Island, this one would probably be it.
The walk is about ten minutes long, and about two hours from home. The "attraction" is a buried forest. 1800 years ago a volcanic eruption knocked all the trees done, and in the '80s they were dug up by a tractor.
Needless to say, the site is now of interest to those who go to those sorts of places because of the back story, but not for those who want to see something. On the upside, there were blackberries here when I visited.
The walk is about ten minutes long, and about two hours from home. The "attraction" is a buried forest. 1800 years ago a volcanic eruption knocked all the trees done, and in the '80s they were dug up by a tractor.
Needless to say, the site is now of interest to those who go to those sorts of places because of the back story, but not for those who want to see something. On the upside, there were blackberries here when I visited.
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| Pureora Buried Forest - Feb 2011 |
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| Pureora Buried Forest - Feb 2011 |
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| Pureora Buried Forest - Feb 2011 |
Monday, May 9, 2011
Hobbiton
Not far from Matamata lies Hobbiton, in the middle of an area coincidentally known as Buckland (the same name as the area in Middle Earth).
After the original triology was filmed, the sets here were not entirely demolished, and the owners of the farm open the site as a tourist attraction. However, there was not much to see - the hobbit wholes had all their architectural details removed, and where merely earthworks and white painted plywood facdes.
Now however, the sets have been rebuilt, and the attraction is still open to the public - a happy coincidence of the delays in filming. Sadly, I cannot post any photos or speak in detail about what there is to see - they make you sign an NDA to get in - but trust me, it is worth it (even given the $66 admission) - while the gardens are not being maintained to the levels on the films, the site has otherwise been rebuilt and is similar to the sets of the original films.
If you have time over coming weeks - definately head out there.
After the original triology was filmed, the sets here were not entirely demolished, and the owners of the farm open the site as a tourist attraction. However, there was not much to see - the hobbit wholes had all their architectural details removed, and where merely earthworks and white painted plywood facdes.
Now however, the sets have been rebuilt, and the attraction is still open to the public - a happy coincidence of the delays in filming. Sadly, I cannot post any photos or speak in detail about what there is to see - they make you sign an NDA to get in - but trust me, it is worth it (even given the $66 admission) - while the gardens are not being maintained to the levels on the films, the site has otherwise been rebuilt and is similar to the sets of the original films.
If you have time over coming weeks - definately head out there.
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| Hobbiton - Buckland, Matamata, New Zealand - May 2011 |
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Te Koutu domain
In the middle of Cambridge is quite a large, and easy to miss lake, Lake Koutu. This lake was farmed when Taupo erupted and blocked off a tributatry to the river Waikato. Of course, that's history from a long time ago - now the lake froms part of the domain, a picturesque spot to go for a walk, with, or without a dog.
There are various walks through the domain, and you can easily spend an hour meandering around to see half of it. Some pics:
There are various walks through the domain, and you can easily spend an hour meandering around to see half of it. Some pics:
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| Te Koutu Park Gates, Cambridge - April 2011 |
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| Te Koutu Lake, Cambridge - April 2011 |
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| Te Koutu Lake, Cambridge - April 2011 |
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| Te Koutu Lake, Cambridge - April 2011 |
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| Te Koutu Lake, Cambridge - April 2011 |
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| Te Koutu Lake, Cambridge - April 2011 |
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| Te Koutu Lake, Cambridge - April 2011 |
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| Te Koutu Lake, Cambridge - April 2011 |
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| Te Koutu Lake, Cambridge - April 2011 |
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| Band Rotuna, Te Koutu Domain, Cambridge - April 2011 |
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| Te Koutu Domain, Cambridge - April 2011 |
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| Olympia Flowforms by Iain Turnball - Te Koutu Domain, Cambridge - April 2011 |
Monday, March 7, 2011
Yarndley's Bush
The weather on Sunday wasn't condusive to going too far afield, so a more local walk it was, but not too local. Yarndley's Bush near Te Awamutu.
Yarndley's bush is a particularly neat stand of bush, mature Kahikitea and natives that prefer a swamp (giant roots aplenty). Sadly, the area isn't quite as swampy as it should be, and the trees are not in the heathiest state - in my opinion the bush needs a dyke built around it, and to be re-flooded, otherwise the forest will die in due course.
In either case, it's a neat little boardwalk, about twenty minutes long.
Yarndley's bush is a particularly neat stand of bush, mature Kahikitea and natives that prefer a swamp (giant roots aplenty). Sadly, the area isn't quite as swampy as it should be, and the trees are not in the heathiest state - in my opinion the bush needs a dyke built around it, and to be re-flooded, otherwise the forest will die in due course.
In either case, it's a neat little boardwalk, about twenty minutes long.
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| Yarndley's Bush, Te Awamutu - 2011 |
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| Yarndley's Bush, Te Awamutu - 2011 |
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| Yarndley's Bush, Te Awamutu - 2011 |
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| Yarndley's Bush, Te Awamutu - 2011 |
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| Yarndley's Bush, Te Awamutu - 2011 |
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Pouakani - the biggest Totara tree
Most New Zealanders (and many tourists) will have visited Tane Mahuta, the largest (by volume) Kauri tree in New Zealand - personally, I consider Te Matua Ngahere larger on the basis of it's girth.
In any case - few have visited the largest Totara - Pouakani near the center of the North Island - which I visited just the other day.
Now, let me be blunt, when this old photo was taken, the sight was better then it is now...
The tree is a twenty minute walk from the road, and the problem is that the area directly around it is well and truely overgrown, so it is difficult to photograph, and for that matter, appriciate.
All in all, I feel the scrub around the tree should be kept low in order to appriciate it (or a tower built nearby to see it from a distance), but it's still very impressive, at 11.43m girth (4m above ground), and 39.67m tall!
Just one thing to be careful of - the giant potholes in the carpark - big enough for any passenger car to bottom out on.
In any case - few have visited the largest Totara - Pouakani near the center of the North Island - which I visited just the other day.
Now, let me be blunt, when this old photo was taken, the sight was better then it is now...
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| Pouakani Totara (Historic) |
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| Pouakani Totara - Feb 2011 |
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| Pouakani Totara - Feb 2011 |
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| Pouakani Totara - Feb 2011 |
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| Pouakani Totara - Feb 2011 |
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| Pouakani Totara - Feb 2011 |
Just one thing to be careful of - the giant potholes in the carpark - big enough for any passenger car to bottom out on.
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Howarth Memorial Wetland
Discovered a new place to go for a walk today, and a good one too. The Howarth Memorial Wetland in Te Aroha. The place is brilliant. The sort of place that a seven year old dreams about. There is of course wetland (both bog and river, with ponds), and an incredibly eclectic mix of trees. Not the usual medley of natives, but a mix of indigenous trees, fruit trees and everything else...
The walk will take around 40 minutes (assuming you don't also go for a swim), and can be accessed from Spur street, or alternatively the end of Lawrence Street (just cross the bridge in that case).
Again, with the photos:
The walk will take around 40 minutes (assuming you don't also go for a swim), and can be accessed from Spur street, or alternatively the end of Lawrence Street (just cross the bridge in that case).
Again, with the photos:
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