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Te Aratia Walkway

Opening in late 2022, Te Aratia Walkway / Whangawehi Walkway is a community-led project centred around the protection of the Whangawehi River, and provides for a east-west crossing of Māhia Peninsula.

The walkway project is led by the Whangawehi Catchment Management Group, a community initiative including Marae, landowners and agencies whose focus is to protect the Whangawehi stream. Since 2014, 250 000 native trees have been planted in the catchment, 150 ha of riparian margins retired and 30 ha of bush blocks protected. The group also carries out pest control and engages with the local school.

There were once several Māori settlements in the valley which was part of a traditional route across the Peninsula. The Whangawehi River was and still is a source of abundant fish and the fertile river terraces were used to grow crops. Interpretative signs placed along the way will explain some of these stories.

The idea of developing a walkway over private land came from a desire to share the benefits of such a large scale restoration project with the wider community.

The walkway starts at sea level at the Whangawehi boat ramp. It follows the river and climbs gently through farmland to a picnic area and hut. In this lower section, the track surface is mostly compacted gravel. 

From there, the grade gets a little steeper through a commercial forestry block and beautiful native forest in the headwaters of the Whangawehi catchment before exiting on Kinikini Road at 140m. This section of the walkway is a dirt trail mostly under a varied plantation forest, and it can become muddy in wet conditions.

There are also two opportunities to connect with the Māhia Peninsula Scenic Reserve loop track - either via a sidetrack located about 1.5km from the picnic area, or once you reach Kinikini Road you can turn left and walk along the unsealed road to the start of the reserve track.

The walkway can also be cycled, and keen cyclists (or walkers!) can complete a round trip by including the clockwise road ride on Kinikini Road and Māhia East Coast Road, a circuit of 24km. The most attractive section of Te Aratia Walkway for cycling is from the Whangawehi Estuary to the shelter at the halfway point. This can be cycled as a 'there and back' ride. The full trail is challenging to ride, especially the middle section which can be muddy, steep in places and with multiple creek crossings.

Walkers can either return to their starting point, or make plans to have a car or collection available at the Kinikini Road end.

Key indicative distances

Whangawehi boat ramp to the hut: 6km (one way)

Hut to the Kinikini car park: 6km

Full loop by Whangawehi boat ramp - Māhia beach - Oraka - Whangawehi boat ramp: 24km

Information thanks to Whangawehi Catchment Management Group and Tapuwae Tairawhiti Trails