Eastern Tawa ReservesBeginner

Description

Take the left hand trail and follow until you come to an arrow pointing right (approx 200m). Ignore and carry on straight, following the main trail (ignoring another smaller left hand trail) until it gets to Bing Lucas drive.

Depending on the time of year you may need to push through some very long grass just before you get to the road.

Turn right at the road and head down to the right of way that has a sign saying private road with pedestrian access to Woodburn Reserve (just over 1km from the start).

Once you get to the end of the private road continue along the narrow, steep accessway between paddocks and turn right once you get to the native bush trail.

Continue straight to follow the loop track (this heads south then veers north). At approx 3.3km turn left, through a gate, past some alpacas, coming out at a lower part of Bing Lucas Drive. Run uphill, along the grass verge until you get back to the track down to Wilf Mexted Reserve.

Follow back the way you came, except this time when you see the arrow turn left and follow it down through the main part of the reserve until you emerge at the entrance.

Features of interest

Wilf Mexted Reserve contains a remnant of the original forest that covered Tawa before the arrival of Europeans. The dominant tree species in the reserve are tawa and kohekohe, which form the forest canopy. Other species include kahikatea, miro, rewarewa and pukatea. Woodburn Reserve covers about five hectares of bush-covered slopes in Woodburn, and is an important ecological area.

Make Up of Run

Easy Single Track: 73%

Sealed Road: 27%

Route Data