Fladgate Reserve - Waihihi Bay Track

This easy track winds downhill alongside a small stream through regenerating native forest and a kanuka canopy and emerges at a small beach where the rivulet drops over rocks into the sea.

This is Waihihi Bay (Brick Bay) and it is a very beautiful, sheltered and sandy swimming spot beneath pohutakawa trees.

To the north is an outcrop of rocks easily crossed except at high tide when you may get wet feet. Beyond the rocks is a much longer more pebbly beach which offers a pleasant stroll to the far end and back.

Location, Grade and Duration

The Fladgate reserve track begins on the northwest side of Titore Way about 100m from the junction with Tapeka Road. From Russell township either take the Kororareka track or walk or drive up Flagstaff Road and Tapeka Road to Titore Way. (There are no footpaths on Flagstaff Road up the hill so beware of road traffic.)

The bush track is easy and shoe friendly. The beach (optional) requires some rock-hopping as well as traversing sand and loose fine stones.

The track down to the beach is about 500m and the beach is another 300m long. Around 30 minutes walking for the return trip. Add swimming time if you wish.

Restrictions

Dogs are not permitted in the reserve which is a habitat for kiwi and weka.

No fires either.

There are no changing facilities or toilets on the beach or track and no road access to the beach.

Interests

Weka may be heard calling during the day and kiwi and the NZ owl(ruru or morepork) at night.

Little kingfishers often sit on the power lines at the top of Titore Way and pheasants and Californian quail frequent the ground. Fantails and occasionally wood pigeons (kereru) can be seen in the bush.

From the far beach a private path leads up to the exclusive and expensive Eagles Nest resort on another hilltop. Helicopters sometimes ferry guests to airports or on sightseeing trips.

History

The Nancy Fladgate Reserve, is twelve acres still owned by the Fladgate family (from the Waikato). They gifted the land for the walkway to the Department of Conservation which built and maintains it.

Pierre Fladgate recalls that while most of the Tapeka native forest was devastated by bushfires started at Long Beach in the early 1980's, this stand of forest was spared.

The walkway leads down to Waihihi (Little Golden Beach) also known as Brick Bay. The Doel Brothers had a brickyard here which failed in the 1870s. One brother then settled in Kawakawa and the other emigrated to Australia. Reportedly children as young as four were co-opted to work in the brickyard. The bricks were smaller than typical NZ bricks.