If it takes almost two hours to drive to get to the start of the track, can you really say it’s in your backyard? That’s how long it usually takes me to get through the long, windy road to Minginui, the closest village to Whirinaki te Pua-a-Tane. It’s a stunning podocarp rainforest that’s on the edges of the Whakatane District - and what a taonga / treasure it is!

I’ve been to the Whirinaki before, twice actually, to do the waterfall loop. Hiking to the Central Whirinaki hut was the first time I had ventured this deep into the forest. The 15.6km hike to the hut is a steady climb with short bursts of uphill. The track is well marked and maintained, with one rogue sign that made me think I was close to the hut when in fact I had another to go! It took me 5.5 hours with a 30 minute break for lunch at Vern’s Camp. By the way, if I wasn’t hiking solo and the forecast wasn’t in the single digits, I would have definitely stayed there. What a cool little spot!

Discover Our Local: Matatā Scenic Reserve - Part 1

I couldn’t find a lot of information about the Matata Scenic Reserve online, so I decided to check it out for myself. Matatā is only 20 minutes drive from Whakatāne, it’s been awhile since I’ve been on a solo hike and 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 like 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 start of the track (less than two minutes walk).

The North Island's Highest Waterfall - Wairere Falls

The best views always come from some gut-busting hikes and Wairere Falls didn’t disappoint. It’s the highest waterfall (153m) in the North Island after all. Even though it was less than two hours to the top of the falls, the 400m elevation made the last 30 minutes (from the lower lookout) a challenging hike in the 30C heat.

Some parts of the track are only wide enough for one person, and add to that it was Waitangi weekend, there was a lot of giving way. The steepest section comes after the lower lookout and I didn’t have to use my poles until then. I saw plenty of families with younger children at the top, so I guess with a bit of time it’s still fairly accessible as a family track. I even saw some people walking in jandals, though I wouldn’t recommend it.