Walks & Parks

A good venue for a family day out - pack a picnic and hang out on the shores of Lake Mangamahoe. There are lots of walking and easy mountain bike tracks. It takes about 2 hours to walk the round the lake circuit, and there are some undulating sections so reasonable fitness is required. There are other walks that take 10-20 minutes, and a section of dedicated mountain bike trails.

There a couple different options to custom fit this trail to your time frame. Either a 30 minute walk from the car park on Motu Falls Road or a 2.5 hour walk from Marumoko Road to the Motu Falls Car Park.

 Kura Täwhiti is an ideal place for exploring and picnicking, with many informal trails running around and between the spectacular limestone rock formations. Allow plenty of time to explore. Located beside SH 73, about 80 minutes from Christchurch, the short walk into the reserve ( 10 mins) is across private paddocks.

This is an easy walkway that circles the Pancake Rock formations. A viewing highlight are the blowholes – the Chimney is a favourite. These are narrow cracks or holes that run from the sea right up through the rock. When the waves rush in, the water funnels up these holes and spurts from the top like steam from a train. Best viewing time for this phenomenon is at high tide, and/or in rough weather. You can find out tide and weather conditions from Punakaiki information centre.

This park is located within the central business district and has large, grassed playing fields, a skate park and a children’s playground. Toilets and drinking fountains are available and at the weekends and during school and public holidays there is live entertainment at the Victoria Park Market which has more than 85 shops, cafes and restaurants and sells arts and crafts, souvenirs, fashion and sportswear.

Open from 8.30am to dusk during summer and 9am to 5pm during winter months, you may see birds, rabbits and other small animals on this walk. Boardwalks make the 30 minute walk easy and you'll view bubbling mud pools, steam holes and native bush. Small charge for the walk. Umbrellas available for extra hot or rainy days. There is also a café for refreshments after your walk.

1 hour drive off SH2, or on the way if heading to Rotorua on SH38. The road is unsealed for several stretches, and quite narrow, so care must be taken, and drive in lower gear than for sealed road. Campsite, shop and picnic area down by lake. Great for swimming, or you can hire row boats or kayaks. 400m further round there’s a DOC information centre and lots of short (30 mins) to multi-day bush walks.

The seal colony is situated at Tauranga Bay 16 kilometres south of Westport. This is a breeding colony of New Zealand Fur Seals. The seals can be easily viewed at the end of an upgraded 10 minute track. Occasionally seals will climb the cliff and sit either on or near the walkway - please ensure you give them space as seals are wild creatures and should not be approached.

If you walk the track clockwise you’ll follow the stream through native beech forest until you reach the relic of Sam Summer’s hut, believed to be over 70 years old. (It’s worth checking out the ‘historic site’ detour you’ll see just before the hut, taking you through an old tail race tunnel only 1 metre wide). The walk involves quite a climb, but the views down to Lake Dispute and Lake Wakatipu are rewarding.

Waihi beach is one of the safest surf beaches in New Zealand. There is plenty of room to relax and play on the nine kilometers of beautiful, white sand. There is a modern shopping centre close by with restaurants.

This popular, easy walk passes through different forest types and has swimming holes at the end of the track - it's ideal for families. This easy walking track, that allows dogs on leads is 5.2 km long one way return via same track. Allow 2 hr one way. For the first hour and a half the track climbs through the mixed podocarp and broadleaf forest along Catchpool Stream. The damp floor of the Catchpool Valley supports many nikau palms, tree ferns, kamahi and tawa trees.As you climb up to the drier sides of Cattle Ridge, the forest is more open and consists mainly of hard beech. Look out for a magnificent grove of huge northern rata trees towering above the forest canopy as the track reaches its highest point in the saddle between Catchpool Valley and the Orongorongo River. There are swimming holes at Turere Stream at the end of the track. You can continue past the stream to the river where there are toilets.

Punakaiki Cavern. Take as long as you like to explore. Grab your torches and you can go way back into the depths. A wooden stairway gives access to 130 m of safe passages with a few stalactites and the odd glow worm. Plenty of fun for all ages, so long as a good torch (and preferably a spare) is carried. Access: Signposted beside the main road 500 m north of the visitor center at Punakaiki.

A 20 minute gentle return walk from the carpark at the end of Kauraeranga Road. Follow the Kauri Trail for about five minutes before turning onto the Billygoat Landing Walk just after the swing bridge. At the Billygoat basin there are good views of the 180 metre high falls and the cliffs.

Whereever you're staying in Napier, you'll find yourself visiting Marine Parade. As well as a host of activities right on the waterfront (eg Aquarium, Mini Golf, Ocean Spa, Sk8 Park) there's a walkway that's completely flat, following the beach. Ideal for walking or biking, you can stroll for several kilometers south to the outskirts of town, or north towards Perfume Point, and Napier's best swimming beaches.

Four kilometers south of Waipu Cove, Pohutukawa trees grow along the edge of this beach which is safe for family swimming or surfing and has views of offshore islands. There are toilets and a change shed near the car park.

Mount Drury is opposite Moturiki Island across Marine Parade from the beach. The ten minute walk follows a well established loop track through mature native and exotic trees. There are great views of the Pacific Ocean and the offshore islands from the peak.

Part of the Waimakariri River Regional Park, the McLeans Track is a well-built, smooth 10km mountain bike track that is ideal for family biking. There are plenty of twists and turns, bumps and small ups and downs, to make it great fun, without being too technical. Ideal for beginner bikers or family groups! Plenty of parking at the start of the track, and there's also a cabin open at weekends, selling bottled water, drinks, muffins and other goodies. You can even rent bikes (for both kids and adults) and helmets, at the start of the track (weekends only, or by arrangement from On Your Bike - 03 348 1738).

The Broken Hills area has a number of walking tracks through old mining sites. From 5 min - 10 hr. A popular walk is to 'Gem of The Boom' 20 min return from Puketui Valley Rd - This was the site of an old mining settlement, and relics of the past can still be seen, including what appears to be a jail cut into solid rock. It is an easy loop walk with two bridged crossings over a small creek. Nestled beside the slow-moving Tairua River, Broken Hills is a tranquil holiday hideaway in a picturesque setting.This beautiful Broken Hills Gorge provides many opportunities for walking, swimming, canoeing, trout fishing, fossicking, rafting, bird watching, photography, picnicking and camping.

This unique banana research establishment, located at Wainui Beach, is set in a tropical paradise of exotic plants and is only a few kilometers away from where the film Whale Rider was filmed. The gardens feature plantings of environmentally friendly bananas, a water feature area, a palm grove, a fairy dell and a play area for children.

Expansive parkland (around 160 hectares) in central Christchurch, Hagley Park public reserve is totally flat and a perfect escape from city life, without leaving the city. Drive in off Rolleston Avenue – there’s plenty of parking, a licensed café and information centre. Nearby is a large playground, lake and extensive gardens. There are walking, cycling or rollerblading tracks throughout the park and indoor/outdoor Botanic Gardens. Numerous recreation areas provide tennis courts, rugby fields, fitness track, netball courts and cricket pavilion. Look out for open air concerts during summer.

This is a sheltered inner-harbour beach which is great for picnics and is safe to take children.

This attractive, white sandy beach with pohutukawas is one and a half kilometres long. The crystal clear water is home to crayfish and fish. At the eastern end of the beach is the site of an old Maori Pa. From the lookout there is access to Cathedral Cove and the marine reserve. There are cafes, a beach store, ice cream parlour and gift shop nearby.