Formal opening for new walking track

CROSSING: The little swing bridge on the new Tanekaha Forest Track.

 

A new track has been completed under the auspices of the Mangawhai Tracks Charitable Trust, providing public access to the Brynderwyn ridge. 

A collaboration between a bunch of old broken down track builders, the New Zealand Walking Access Commission, Marunui Conservation, and local dairy farmer Mark Gash, will see a formal opening of the track at the car park just off King Rd on the Saturday of Labour Weekend, October 20. 

The track is accessed from 3km up King Rd via a legal unformed public road on the right just beyond the second bridge. A parking area has been constructed 100m up this access and no vehicles are permitted past this point. 

The track, marked by MTCT blue and silver markers, follows the road to a style which leads onto Marunui land and the elegant little swing bridge constructed by Dan Bustard and his team and funded by the Walking Access Commission. 

From the bridge the track crosses a second stream by stepping stones and briefly proceeds upstream before climbing towards the ridge and into the DOC reserve. Steeper sections have been stepped and slopes benched but once on the ridge the grade lessens with just a few steeper climbs.

The community is invited to the official opening by Chris Jenkins (DOC Conservator, Northland) at the car park at 1.30pm. You will then be invited to join a group for a walk to the top, or just stroll in your own time to the bridge and any point beyond.

Tanekaha Forest Track opening, Saturday October 20 (Labour Weekend), 1.30pm.