Discover Our Local: Nga Tapuwae o Toi - Kohi Point Track
This beautiful scene greets you on the Kohi Point track as you make your way around the coast.
My energy levels have been more down than up in the last couple of weeks, so I haven’t been able to get out to explore. Sundays are my ‘switch off’ day, or at least for a few hours, and because I haven’t been well, I thought I would check out a local favourite, Nga Tapuwae o Toi, or the Footsteps of Toi. I walked the Kohi Point walkway from Seaview Road, but didn’t walk down to Otarawairere Bay as my energy levels were getting a bit low. This will have to wait for another day.
Little look-outs and tree breaks give way to stunning views like this.
Nga Tapuwae o Toi is a track from Whakatane to Ohope and back again. It is broken down into a few different tracks, so you can walk a section or the loop, depending on how much time you have. You can find out more info on the full track, including maps here.
Walking up the steps towards the Seaview Rd carpark sent my lungs screaming - shaking off this bug would take a bit more than I thought. Stairs have never been easy for me, especially downhill for my knees. It probably just means I need to do more cardio at the gym!
After one the steeper uphill sections, you come down the track opening up to the coastline.
What I loved most about this track is that you’re never that far away from the coast. As you begin to climb higher, the view just got better. In the years I’ve lived in New Zealand, I’ve never lived more than 30 minutes away from the ocean! If like me you have some past or current knee issues, there are several steep sections, but if you take your time, you should be OK. There are parts where the path narrows, including overgrown parts with tree roots, so watch out for those.
The Whakatane township, river and the Pacific Ocean.
Keep an eye out for the little side tracks that not only offer a bird’s eye view of the town, but also a nice breather or snack. On the way back down, I stopped for a snack and to escape the heat of the midday sun. March is the start of Autumn in New Zealand, yet here I was, walking on a day that feels like Summer! That’s the beauty of the Bay of Plenty, it’s so easy to forget the seasons when we have so many sunny days like these.
Today’s walk was definitely a more scenic ‘leg day’ workout, that’s for sure! I want to do the full track before I head off to South America, but will make a day of it. Always make time to explore your backyard, see it from the eyes of tourists, you may just realise you’re living in paradise all this time.
The view from the part of the track where I turned around - can't wait to do the full walk down to Otarawairere Bay.