Managed Wilderness

TAKAHOA BAY WALKING TRACKS

Walking-tracks-map

Wilderness Track (Track # 1)

  •  Start above the tennis court along Takahoa  Drive or……look for 5 ancient cabbage trees on the mown grass area to the north-east of the tennis court.
  • Follow the mown track down the slope toward the lake and into the totara trees.  On the left is an old mangeo tree (shiny pale green leaves) together with 3 newly planted ones to keep it company.  In time, cross fertilisation will improve the quality of berries – food for the birds.
  •  The cut track passes between totara and 2 old kahikatea.
  • As you head down toward the lake, in the open area, you will notice assorted new plantings and young kahikatea in the wetter areas (they are brown and spindly and at this stage appear dead (but they are not).  We are aiming to have at least 200 trees to eventually create a small replica of the kahikatea lowland forest which once dominated the Kaipara harbour shoreline – a huge food larder for native birds.
  • If you see pukekos ahead please feel free to scare them off as they are a nuisance – delighting in pulling out newly planted flax, nikau and cabbage trees.
  • On down the slope toward the circular path which is exposed to the south and west winds.  Walk anti-clockwise around the circle.  On your right, you may note the presence of the 3 varieties of willow planted on the swampy western edge of the lake – the objective is quick shelter and a useful alternative food source for birds.
  • You can follow the circle around and return whence you came OR follow the orange markers to Gully One, next to the lake edge, then east toward Gully Two and out to the main roadTakahoa Drive.
  • The 2 gullies were originally planted in 2001/02 in the early development of the Property.  Since then, they have needed repeat sprayings to control convolvulous and infill planting to cover losses.  There has also been a deliberate policy to plant further species – putaputaweta, wineberry, miro and puriri – to improve flower and ultimately, berry production.
  • On the eastern side of Gully One, there are 3 young swamp maire (and a bait station).
  • Follow the orange markers across the swampy area to the Lusitanicas, then follow the orange markers and bait stations eastward along the lake.  In addition to ducks and swans you may see dabchicks, bittern, frogs – in season, skinks, Royal Spoonbills and shags.
  • As ‘Takahoa iti’ (the smaller of the 2 basalt plugs) looms closer, the track turns hard left past a liquidamber. 
  • Head up the bank and follow around the edge of the Gully Two plantings.  This is older bush with some new kowhai and miro.  The latter have only been planted a few years.
  • Shortly, you come to an area where lusitanicas and eucalyptus have been removed to prevent damage to the miro present.  It is the start of the cleared track to take you out toTakahoa Drive.
  • At the road, turn left to return to your start point OR turn right to the track that leads to a delightful picnic spot on ’Takahoa iti’ – with wonderful views across the lake.

‘Takahoa iti’ Track (Track # 2)

  • Without a doubt, this is the best track to give you an overview of the lake and the southern section of the Takahoa Property.
  • It moves directly and easily fromTakahoa   Driveto the top of ‘Takahoa iti’.  This is the smaller and more easily accessed of the 2 basalt plugs.  Takahoa, the larger plug, has considerable significance to the local Maori and should be treated with respect.
  • At ‘Takahoa iti’ there is a cleared area suitable for relaxing or a picnic.  Look for the flocks of lake birds including ducks, swans, shags, dabchicks, Royal Spoonbills and swallows beating the water – be charmed by the fantails working the tops of the bush in Gully Two.
  • On the way in and out, look for the regenerating natives and eucalyptus in amongst the lusitanicas.
  • But, before you leave, look east.  In autumn, there is a real bonus to be seen in the early amenity plantings of liquid ambers and swamp cypress between the 2 basalt plugs (Takahoa and ‘Takahoa iti’) – a blaze of colour to augment the old and new plantings of poplars and willows on the lake side and in Reserve V.
  • What a wonderful world

Southern Track (Track # 3)

  • This is presently not an easy walk in its entirety.  There are 2 gullies with steep drop-ins and climb-outs and one steepish slope to traverse.  Members can either retrace their steps or duck up one of the boundaries between Lots if the going gets too tricky for some.  Development will be ongoing.
  • This is a ‘tractor-cut’ track on the southern edge of the lake between the southern end of the causeway – almost to the junction of Manu Drivewith Takahoa Drivealong the boundary of Lot4 and Reserve V.  It is essentially on the “Queens Chain’.  It can be walked either way.
  • When moving past Reserve U, please keep maximum distance from the shore line – this is the area favoured by the Royal Spoonbills for roosting and is listed as a shag breeding area.
  • Look across the lake for birds – and for people looking at you!
  • This walk is in the open and on DoC ground.  It is proposed, in association with DoC to define a boundary and develop a planting programme.

 Additional Resources

Walking-tracks-map

Managed-Wilderness-Summary-2011