Watercare Coastal WalkwayBeginner

Description

Start at the Ambury Regional Park car park. Head south through a couple of farm gates and turn left for the start of the Walkway, skirting the farm paddocks. After about 1km you have two options. Either turn right down to the waterfront and then turn left when you hit the water or carry on straight and follow the farm road round, either way you will end up in the same place.

Carry on east along the water until you cross the in/outlet of Mangere Lagoon. Veer right along the water towards the Watercare facility (or veer left and do a loop of the lagoon, adding a couple of kms). Run past the industrialness of the Mangere Wastewater Treatment Plant, keeping your eyes turned to the sea. Skip across the Puketutu Island Road and turn right on the on the far side of the water.

About 750m along turn left (or continue straight onto Puketutu Island for a detour.) Continue along the foreshore, veering right until you run through Oruarangi Rd car park (alternative starting point if you wish). Go across the little bridge and onto the Otuataua Stonefields path. When you see the signs for the lookout turn left to follow the gravel path or carry on past the lookout along the beach if you want to get off the path. Either way you will end up at a dead end around 8km into the run.

Turn around and head back the way you came. About 100m from the end there is a side path that takes you onto the stonefields proper if you want to have a look around before retracing your steps.

Features of interest

Route starts at Ambury Regional Park, a working farm, and the halfway point is at Otuataua Stonefields, a historic reserve. There are bird roosts and a variety of bird life along the way as the route skirts around Manukau Harbour.

Make Up of Run

Easy Single Track: 30%

Farm Road / 4WD Track: 70%

Route Data