Ōpanuku Me Oratia

This route is not one for the trail purists. It is almost all on footpath or cycle path, other than a couple of foot bridges and a short gravel path section. There are some road sections, a number of road crossings, and some cutting through of car parks. That said, there is also some wonderful urban trail through parkland and above the lower reaches of the rapidly flowing streams of Oratia (Henderson Creek) and Ōpanuku (Henderson stream). An early start on a still weekend day will make for a quiet and beautiful route. Following the route clockwise as prescribed will get most of the road sections completed early.

From the start in Falls Park, cross Alderman Drive then angle left through the car park. Leave the red rail bridge on your right and continue to the end of the carpark and into Newey's Corner. From here you will continue alongside Millbrook Road, above the Oratia stream.

At about the 2km mark you will reach and turn right into Millbrook Esplanade reserve. Follow the path until you are approaching Sunnyvale train station, at which point the path forks and you will angle right away from the station, continuing along the Oratia until reaching Parr's Cross Road. Turn right and follow Parr's Cross. This is the longest road section and with some intersection crossings. Eventually however you will reach Ōpanuku Stream path on the right and continue through Henderson Valley Park. Cross Border Road and continue along the path opposite.

You next come out to Keeling Road but on a quiet cul-de-sac where turning left you very quickly drop back onto the path. At about 8.3km the path comes to a crossroads and you take a right. On coming to Great North Road, cross carefully, then again at Sel Peacock Drive, or follow the trail underneath it.

The trail then loops around Cranwell Park before coming to a yellow railed footbridge on the left which you cross before following the trail immediately to the left. Eventually you come to Central Park Drive before again either crossing the road or following the trail underneath it. Continuing on will bring you out to the North Western Cycleway alongside SH16, taking a left to go over the creek and then another left once across it.

Popping up on Central Park Drive, follow it to Trusts Arena where you drop through the carpark, into Central Park, past the athletics track, and back up onto Central Park Drive. Crossing the creek again, you join up with the previous route heading south back to the yellow footbridge. Crossing this you take a left, then left again over the next footbridge into Falls Park and back to the starting location.