Aucks Road to Te Wahapu Road

Through the gate beside the parking area on Aucks Road a short distance down a grassy lane leads to the entrance to the track proper on the right. The track then drops down through a pleasant grove of trees to a valley before climbing another ridge. After crossing two more similar valleys the track rises to meet Te Wahapu Road at a small parking area.

Location, Grade and Duration

The northern access to the track, pictured right, is from a very small parking area on Te Wahapu Road, on the left and just over the rise from the Aucks Road turnoff. The southern access pictured above is from the Aucks Road parking area where the track from Pipiroa Beach finishes.

The track winds through regenerating bush and forest with considerable descents and ascents as it crosses the three small valleys requiring reasonable fitness.

Restrictions

Dogs are permitted but only on a leash on the track.

There are no facilities and no shops near this track.

The track crosses private land so stay on the track. From the Aucks Road end, after about 80 metres branch off the private lane right onto the track proper as shown by the markers pictured at left.

Interests

Bush and forest walking.

Omata Estate is a vineyard supplying high quality merlot and syrah wines. The southern end of the track crosses the estate driveway.

History

A small farm, Omata, was the property of Captain John Wright, who ran a provision store as well since he first settled here in the early 1830s.

Wright’s property suffered during Heke’s War when parties of Maori warriors plundered the farm and left a trail of damage behind them. However, there are many accounts of Wright’s wonderful orchards and the fruit that he supplied to visiting ships.

Young Scotsman, Gilbert Mair, purchased land at Te Wahapu after the loss of the mission ship Herald which he had helped to build. He build a self-sufficient community, but now all the original buildings have gone, burnt in scrub fires in the 1870s leaving the whole peninsula bare – even the flagstaff was burned through.