The pathway was established by volunteers organised by Te Ara Kahikatea Pathway Incorporated Society starting in 2011, and was officially opened in April 2018 by the mayor of Western Bay of Plenty District Council.
Length: Te Ara Kahikatea Pathway is a 4 km long walkway and cycleway.
About the track: The pathway starts and ends at the Hera Memorial adjacent to a parking area off Commerce Lane. The pathway crosses over Jubilee Park and runs along Stock Rd and King St before forming a loop around a rural part of Te Puke. The pathway loop can be walked in a clockwise or anticlockwise direction.
Amenities:
- The parking area on Commerce Lane also has toilet facilities
- There are parking spaces available for freedom campers.
- Dogs are permitted on the pathway if they are kept on a leash.
- An information panel with a diagram and marked places of interest can be found in 3 places: by the Hera Memorial where the pathway starts and ends, at the junction by Tinkerbell’s Garden where the loop starts and ends, and at the entrance to the old cemetery on Landscape Road.
What’s to see along the way?
- The track passes through wetlands and alongside the Waiari Stream on the eastern outskirts of Te Puke
- The track is close to Te Puke where there is plenty of cafes and things to check out in the charming township
- A mix of native plants, including kahikatea, have been planted alongside the pathway
