Trackies triumph again

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Slashing and burning (well, not exactly burning) digging, chopping and raking is the weekly task of our intrepid team of ‘Trackies’ (pictured) and to whom we owe the thanks for the establishment of all the new walkways in and around Mangawhai. 

Their latest efforts culminated in the official opening of the Tanekaha Botanical track last Saturday, another in the plethora of walks in the Tanekaha forest area, off King Road.

The new track links the Falls and Forest tracks in a loop taking an easy three hours but with a lot of interesting scenery and identified trees on the way. As a grade 3 walk it is most suited to family outings and is an ideal activity for a change of pace in the school holidays.

Spokesman for the Trackies, Gordon Hosking, says the track has taken around a year to complete but time is not of the essence but more a welcome weekly diversion for the 15 or so volunteers – guys and guy-esses – who enjoy not only the fellowship of working in a group but also the service they are doing for Mangawhai, arguably the walking capital of New Zealand. 

“With that one now completed we need a new challenge,” says Gordon. “There is something on the table but needs the Council go-ahead and if this is granted we will be able to see even more of Mangawhai and from a new perspective.”

Despite the heavy rainfall of the past few months tracks have stood up well with no slips or washouts reported – a testament to the great job our volunteer team is doing.

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