Big group walks new track at opening

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Labour Day saw the official open-ing of the Tanekaha Waterfall track, a sister to the Tanekaha Forest track that

opened a year or so ago.

Over 80 people of all ages chose to walk at least part of the route and attend the momentous occasion, admiring the handiwork of the trackmakers in carv-ing an accessible path leading to the Brynderyn trig point.

Kaumatua Ben de Thierry bless-ed the area, the wildlife (including the many imported kiwi now breeding suc-cessfully in the bush), and those who walk the track.

The route takes in two waterfalls, an old mill site and leads to the Brynder-wyn walkway, ultimately looping back to civilisation in a pleasant, picturesque and not overly strenuous four hour hike for those who take the round trip.

Gordon Hosking and Richard Henry gave a short summary of the track team and some of the work involved in re-es-tablishing the access which roughly fol-lowed a road surveyed originally in 1896 with the route being endorsed by pig hunters, senior members of early set-tling families and some local folklore.

Richard then cut the ribbon to open the track which, it is expected, will now become well trod by locals and visitors and an addition to the annual walking weekend routes.

By Rob Pooley

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