I couldn’t find a lot of information about the Matatā Scenic Reserve online, so I decided to check it out for myself. Matatā is only 20 minutes drive from Whakatāne and it’s been awhile since I’ve been on a solo hike, so I was excited to check out a new track close to home.

Matatā is on SH 2, about a 20 minute drive from Whakatāne and less than an hour from Tauranga or Rotorua. The trailhead is at Mair Street - it’s the first left turn if you’re coming from Whakatāne. Keep driving until you get to the end which is a cul-de-sac. Please be respectful and make sure you don’t block access for the residents. The scenic reserve sign is across from the train tracks, and you’ll see the patch of grass that’s been mowed which leads you down to the tracks. Also, listen and watch out for trains! At the tracks go right, then look for a bit of gravel on the grass on the left bank - that’s the trailhead (less than two minutes walk).

As you enter the forest, you’ll walk alongside the stream (on your right) and you’ll come across three tracks (you’ll see a big orange triangle on one of the trees). I haven’t explored the track on the left, but I have a feeling it loops back too, so I will update the blog when I do. You can also cross the stream and walk the loop I did counter-clockwise. I took the centre track (in front of you as you enter the forest) and walked it clockwise - which definitely would have given me epic views of the ocean if it wasn’t raining that day.

This is a DOC (Department of Conservation) track, and it’s well marked with orange triangles. I did get a handy local’s tip when I was getting my soy mocha at Drift Store though (their brownies are also delicious) - a local had put up some blue milk bottle caps as another way finding tool. That’s why it pays to chat to the locals aye.

The recent rain did make the track a bit muddy in some sections, but for most of the way it was pretty steady underfoot. Just be careful of some steep drop offs as you walk along the ridge, and parts of the track will narrow. I did enjoy some of the uphill scrambling, well it was scrambling for these short legs!

It isn’t all uphill - the ridge flattens out where you can catch your breath (you’ll be looking down at the forest canopy) before the track starts heading downhill. Remember those blue milk bottle caps I told you about? That info came handy when I reached a small junction and the orange triangles pointed both left and right. I had a fair idea that I should take a right as that was the direction of the township, so I followed my gut. Just before the track started heading downhill, I saw a couple of those lids and did a little Carlton dance before I braced myself (and my knees) for the downhill.

If you’ve been following my past adventures, you know that I’m not a fan of downhill, especially steep ones. However, I am training for a winter hike, and this was the perfect track to work on my strength and better technique. I did take a hiking pole with me which helped a lot, and I’m proud to say that I didn’t do as much bum-sliding as I normally do. I would even go as far to say that some of the downhill was kind of fun.

As the track loops back, it’s pretty much all downhill. Parts of the track opens up and you get an awesome view of the Matatā township as well as the Pacific Ocean. Once you see the water tank in the bushes, you’re about ten minutes from the stream. There’s a short steep section that takes you back to the stream (take a right on the track) - it was muddy from the rain but wasn’t too slippery. There wasn’t much water in the stream at the time, and it’s less than a metre wide - easy to cross even if there was more water.

Walking the loop took me about 1.5 hours, but that was in the rain and a few stops for photos. I’m keen to see where the left track leads to next time as I felt the terrain would make a good training hike, but it did need to be longer for me. Thanks to the awesome locals who gave me info on this track, and I’m looking forward to exploring more of this beautiful reserve.

fivefootronna is Ronna Grace Funtelar - a thirtyish adventurer, graphic designer and writer. A woman with a curious mind who lives for hiking mountains, outdoor adventures and eating pizza. She has a unique brand of optimism that is a combination of her great enthusiasm for life and cups of coffee during the day.