This is probably the most difficult walk you can do within a short drive from St Omer Hide Away. Wear very good shoes and perhaps wait a few days if it has recently rained.
It may be a better hike in summer or very early fall so that the sun is more overhead and shining on all parts of the track at least part of the day. We did this track in mid-April and parts were very slick with wet clay, moss and algae.
Hiking poles or walking sticks are a must, and preferably two of them if it is wet and slick. It might not be a problem if it has been dry.
There are green and yellow DOC-type poles marking the path, mostly in the places you need them. About half way through the walk you’ll come to a fairly flat, cleared section with some great views of Kenepuru Sound. You can see Te Mahia, Portage and St Omer Bay.
This track will have gorse, some stumps and roots but it is fairly well maintained for a voluntary track. We are very grateful to Hopewell’s owners, Mike and Lynley, for their work in maintaining the track.
Note: there’s about an 800 foot elevation change on this walk although not a lot of up and down. So it is mostly up on the first section, and then down on the return. And, on the final stretch after you’ve finished coming down, you’ll go through a beautiful treed section with Manuka and tree ferns and then onto a gravel road where you’ll feel like you are walking on someone’s private property.
Well you are, but that’s ok and just make certain you close the gate when you reach Kenepuru Road. This is probably the most difficult walk you can do within a short drive from St Omer Hide Away. Wear very good shoes and perhaps wait a few days if it has recently rained.
It may be a better hike in summer or very early fall so that the sun is more overhead and shining on all parts of the track at least part of the day. We did this track in mid-April and parts were very slick with wet clay, moss and algae.
Hiking poles or walking sticks are a must, and preferably two of them if it is wet and slick. It might not be a problem if it has been dry.
There are green and yellow DOC-type poles marking the path, mostly in the places you need them. About half way through the walk you’ll come to a fairly flat, cleared section with some great views of Kenepuru Sound. You can see Te Mahia, Portage and St Omer Bay.
This track will have gorse, some stumps and roots but it is fairly well maintained for a voluntary track. We are very grateful to Hopewell’s owners, Mike and Lynley, for their work in maintaining the track.
Note: there’s about an 800 foot elevation change on this walk although not a lot of up and down. So it is mostly up on the first section, and then down on the return. And, on the final stretch after you’ve finished coming down, you’ll go through a beautiful treed section with Manuka and tree ferns and then onto a gravel road where you’ll feel like you are walking on someone’s private property.
Well you are, but that’s ok and just make certain you close the gate when you reach Kenepuru Road.
This is probably the most difficult walk you can do within a short drive from St Omer Hide Away. Wear very good shoes and perhaps wait a few days if it has recently rained.
It may be a better hike in summer or very early fall so that the sun is more overhead and shining on all parts of the track at least part of the day. We did this track in mid-April and parts were very slick with wet clay, moss and algae.
Hiking poles or walking sticks are a must, and preferably two of them if it is wet and slick. It might not be a problem if it has been dry.
There are green and yellow DOC-type poles marking the path, mostly in the places you need them. About half way through the walk you’ll come to a fairly flat, cleared section with some great views of Kenepuru Sound. You can see Te Mahia, Portage and St Omer Bay.
This track will have gorse, some stumps and roots but it is fairly well maintained for a voluntary track. We are very grateful to Hopewell’s owners, Mike and Lynley, for their work in maintaining the track.
Note: there’s about an 800 foot elevation change on this walk although not a lot of up and down. So it is mostly up on the first section, and then down on the return. And, on the final stretch after you’ve finished coming down, you’ll go through a beautiful treed section with Manuka and tree ferns and then onto a gravel road where you’ll feel like you are walking on someone’s private property.
Well you are, but that’s ok and just make certain you close the gate when you reach Kenepuru Road.
This is probably the most difficult walk you can do within a short drive from St Omer Hide Away. Wear very good shoes and perhaps wait a few days if it has recently rained.
It may be a better hike in summer or very early fall so that the sun is more overhead and shining on all parts of the track at least part of the day. We did this track in mid-April and parts were very slick with wet clay, moss and algae.
Hiking poles or walking sticks are a must, and preferably two of them if it is wet and slick. It might not be a problem if it has been dry.
There are green and yellow DOC-type poles marking the path, mostly in the places you need them. About half way through the walk you’ll come to a fairly flat, cleared section with some great views of Kenepuru Sound. You can see Te Mahia, Portage and St Omer Bay.
This track will have gorse, some stumps and roots but it is fairly well maintained for a voluntary track. We are very grateful to Hopewell’s owners, Mike and Lynley, for their work in maintaining the track.
Note: there’s about an 800 foot elevation change on this walk although not a lot of up and down. So it is mostly up on the first section, and then down on the return. And, on the final stretch after you’ve finished coming down, you’ll go through a beautiful treed section with Manuka and tree ferns and then onto a gravel road where you’ll feel like you are walking on someone’s private property.
Well you are, but that’s ok and just make certain you close the gate when you reach Kenepuru Road.
