| Cardiff | Awahou | Carrington |
| McCullough Dell | Aotuhia | Matemateaonga |
| Egmont National Park |
The Cardiff Centennial Walkway is sited on the Waingongoro River at Cardiff, some 6km from Stratford. The walkway follows the crystal clear river on both banks upstream from the Opunake Road bridge for approximately 1-1.5km giving a circuit length of 3km, which takes about one hour to walk.
The walkway is an attractive and tranquil riverbank walk. Changes of direction and elevation provide variety as there are steep slopes and river flats. Tracks are constructed as far as possible with minimum disturbance to the natural environment.
The Patea River originates on the eastern slopes of Mt Taranaki/Egmont, and flows along a boulder strewn riverbed through the town of Stratford, which sits astride its bush clad river banks.
The Carrington Walkway is a loop town/bush walk, encompassing past planting of native bush into which European and American species have been introduced. Along the walkway, discover some impressive views of Mt Taranaki/Egmont which rises 2,518 metres (8,260 feet) and which dominates our western horizon.
Visit the McCullough Rhododendron Dell in spring. This is a spacious area of green lawns, large trees, and gardens. These gardens are also very picturesque during the Taranaki Rhododendron Festival, held annually every October.
Formed in the 1960's these gardens contain several hundred rhododendrons and include some propagated from seed sent from the Royal Botanical Gardens in Edinburgh, Scotland, as well as some from Lord Rothchild's gardens in England.
DOC MANAGED TRACKS IN THE STRATFORD DISTRICT
Taranaki's rediscovered outback recreational area, Aotuhia, is centred around a scenic and historical valley flanking the Whanganui National Park. The bridge leads to the modern facilities of Aotuhia Station, halfway between the Taranaki and Central North Island mountains, and less than 10km by track to the Wanganui River.
Scenic Walks - Egmont National Park
Among the many walks that can be found in the Egmont National Park are those which are easily reached from Dawson Falls, the Stratford Plateau or from the area around the Stratford Mountain House.
More information on different walks in the Stratford and Eastern Taranaki area can be obtained from the Stratford Information Centre.
The Matemateaonga Walkway was the first major stage of a proposed North Island and East-West Walkway from Cape Egmont to East Cape. The route, now followed by the walkway, was originally a Maori foot track. There probably was no permanent population. Heavy frosts would have made kumara cultivation very difficult. It is thought more likely that tribes came to the area seasonally to quarry rock.
The western access at Kohi Saddle includes the provision of off-road parking. Kohi Saddle is on the Upper Mangaehu Road, 15km east of Makahu (motorists leave SH43 at Strathmore) .
The walkway has three huts strategically located to provide overnight accommodation for 10-12 people (beds are available on the first come/first served basis). A charge is payable for use of these facilities.
Camp sites are situated in the vicinity of huts and at two intermediate points. Humphries clearing where rainwater is available.
For almost 40 kilometres the walkway follows the ridgeline of the Matemateaonga range and traverses Crown Land in the west and the Whanganui National Park from Otaraheke eastwards. From the Kohi Saddle car-park walkers climb through second growth reverting forest. Soon there is typical tawa and rewarewa forest on the hill slopes, both trees in flower in the last quarter of the year.
Birds are attracted to the fruit of one, the honeysuckle sweetness of the other. Look for Kakas (a sign of rain if they are making a fuss), Tuis, Bush Robins, Bellbirds, Fantails.
A walkway needs a focal feature, and that feature on this walkway is the Wanganui River. Approached from Puketotara, as a reward for three days walking it presents a magnificent vista of bluffs, cliffs and bends all crowned with bush.
Approached from Pipiriki, after the exhilaration of a jetboat ride, there is only the walkway sign to distinguish a bank on a miscellaneous bend but as you climb the steep ascent the river's splendour is revealed.
(Booking your jetboat ride from the end of the track before you leave is essential.)
The Awahou Ridge Track through beech forest, (Awahou Scenic Reserve) begins at the top of the Whangamomona Saddle. It runs along ridge tops then descends rather abruptly to the floor of the valley by the Awahou Stream at the foot of the Whangamomona Saddle.
