Kororareka Reserve Tracks

The Kororareka Reserve track climbs through native bush on the north headland of Russell's bay up to Titore Way on the shoulder of Te Maiki (Flagstaff) Hill.

Two lower entry point options for this track allow access from Russell township either at high or low tide.

At Titore Way you can return down the track (perhaps choosing the other lower exit) or you can go up Titore Way and continue to explore either or both of the Fladgate Reserve track to another beach or the Te Maiki track up to Hone Heke's famous Flagstaff and superb views of the whole Bay of Islands.

Location, Grade and Duration

At high tide the lower entry to the track starts halfway up Wellington Street. At low to mid tide access is from Watering Bay to the north of Kororareka beach accessed via a short "rock hop".

"Downhill only" walkers can catch the Russell Mini-Tours bus next to the wharf (hourly, $25), get off at the top of the Flagstaff hill and walk down Titore Way to the upper entry to the track.

The bush track itself is about 300m, has easy grades, some steps at the Wellington Street entry point and is shoe-friendly. Sand and rock traversal is required to enter or exit via the lower tide access point.

Restrictions

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

No fires either.

Interests

The beach walk around to the lower entry point gives good views of the boats, wharf and sea frontage of Russell.

Alternatively, Wellington Street has a number of interesting houses both historic and modern.

Half way up the track is a seat and a view over Kororareka Bay and "down town" Russell.

The bush is mostly regenerating kanuka but with larger and older trees down in the stream beds.

History

The track climbs up from Watering Bay or Waipara - so named because of its spring which provided excellent fresh water to the ships provisioning in the 1800s. With good water and a sheltered anchorage Russell became the first point of call and major port for all visitors to New Zealand.

The alternative route via Wellington Street was known as 'West Gully' and was the route taken by the Maori who carried the new flagstaff from the beach to Te Maiki in 1858. In the early days of Russell, the best of society including the Chief Magistrate, Mr Beckham, lived here and the area was known as 'Victoria Terrace'.

A seat near the top of Wellington Street commemorates Kay Bosanquet, founder of the Russell Business Association.