Mangawhai Walking Weekend - Trailblazers see Te Arai Park unwrapped

Where is Te Arai Park one may wonder? This unknown under-loved, under-utilised block of land including Te Arai Point itself, was acquired by the Auckland Council about five years ago and has been left gathering gorse and pampas and other invasive weeds while offering great areas of regenerating bush, important swamp land, spectacular views and the little gems known as dune lakes.

Our guide for this new walk at the Mangawhai Walking Weekend, Belinda, felt it was up to her to unravel the mystery of the Park by creating a new walk. By offering it to the programme she had an incentive to create a public track.

On a perfect summer's morning Belinda and I left the packed Te Arai car park to the high tide and spectacular surf, including the surfers, and climbed the hill where we were delighted to find the mower man had left us a clear path through the kikuyu. At the top we took the right hand path to climb further up the hill. Every minute or so we had to stop to turn round and take a photo. With the intense blue of the sea contrasting with the white of the waves and the gold of the sand it was a sight for sore eyes. We headed for a gate which was entirely enmeshed, bound up, in fact smothered in strangling kikuyu. Climbing the fence was the only option so over we went. Using all physical strength allowed us to push through this head high Northland icon. Could the mower get there too? On we went up to the trig continuing to admire the views.

A short walk down from the trig took us to a diversion to view from above one dune lake gradually filling with grasses and weeds where I remember not so long ago seeing it in a much clearer state. Down the hill again to where Belinda had marked a spot on the fence line. Prepared with toweling to cloak the barbed wire we climbed the fence to enter the regenerating bush. Cutting and thrashing through the undergrowth over several earlier weekends, Belinda and partner Peter found what may have once been well used tracks as there was a hard base indicating previous pounding feet. Moving through this bush we

named and admired as many of the tall ferns and new growth that we could. Finally we arrived at one of the most breathtaking sights I have ever seen. Our chattering stopped. We listened to the sounds nature offered, our eyes wide as our breathing relaxed and we stood still, entranced. How long did we stay? Five minutes? Ten minutes? We wanted to remain.

But as all good things have to end we reluctantly departed the spot to continue on our way. Crossing the fence again we emerged from the Park at Ocean View Road where we walked down through the pines to Forestry Beach. With sand as fine as in an hour glass and nearly as white we walked to the end of the beach, stopped at the memorial seat, then continued up the hill to the next lookout. We finished with the longish climb to the top and then down back to the car park.

My personal excitement after this outing was that the Walking Weekend had spurred Belinda on, given her the impetus to investigate Te Arai Park and so publicise this public asset by creating a new walk for the programme. In fact all the new walks round the district have begun with this motivation. Wonderful!

■ To learn about this public park and discover the secrets it has to offer, join Belinda on the Te Arai Unwrapped Walk at the Mangawhai Walking Weekend. Information and bookings at mangawhaiwalkingweekend.co.nz.

By Jean Goldschmidt

SURPRISE: Breathtaking sights await walkers on the Te Arai Park track.