Whitebait Fritter

This is a most pleasant small foray around the margins of the Ashley River Rakahuri Estuary and river mouth. It also fills a missing link between other trails on the directory allowing you to combine longer missions with the Ashley River Stopbanks Half Marathon, the Waikuku Beach and Estuary Loop and the Tutaepatu Woodend Beach Circuit and beyond.

During spring this is a hotspot for whitebaiters, so you never know you might catch some yourself if you come suitably equipped, maybe even enough for a fritter!

The recommended start for Whitebait Fritter is the carpark at the estuary at Waikuku Beach. Start by following the pleasant curve of the estuary, which is full of wading birds of many descriptions, including if you are lucky at certain times of year the Kotuku White Heron.

The trail continues past the estuary over a control gate and out onto the Rakahuri Trail. Follow this through pleasant bush upstream, past the junction with the Taranaki Trail (you'll return on this soon) and up until you intercept the 4WD road.

Head back a few hundred metres along this road to pick up the signposted Taranaki Trail which winds its way though wetland and bridges almost all the way back to the main estuary area. Retrace your steps to the carpark and if its warm do pop out to the beach for a cool down swim.