Whitepine Bush Scenic Reserve is a beautiful Kahikatea Forest and just a 15 minute drive out of Whakatane on SH2. It’s a 250m loop track nestled in native NZ bush and would be an ideal walk for families with young kids, or bird watching enthusiasts. Two weekends in a row with great weather meant no excuse to stay indoors, and although it’s a short walk, I spent a good hour walking around taking photos.
Read MoreWalking through Rotorua’s Hell’s Gate is an interesting contrast of lush green nature versus the barren geothermal landscape of steam vents and bubbling mud baths. On a cloudy day the steam looks even more foreboding, and the heat that radiates is surprisingly intense in some craters.
Read MoreThe Ngatapuwae o Toi is a loop track from Whakatane to Ohope. This morning I walked the Fairbrother Loop Walk at Ohope Beach. They say the walk should take about an hour and half, and that’s taking it easy. There were some steeper uphill sections, but if you powered through it I say you can do it in an hour. I was alone for most of the time - the track was also a bit muddy as we’ve had quite a bit of rain over the last few days. I can see this track being busier in the summer.
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