Okura Bush Walkway

Okura Bush Walkway

Redvale

5 Rankers Reviews

4 Face-to-Face

1 Albany

Your Nature Guide

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Marios Gavalas

Author And Researcher

Nau mai, haere mai

Nau mai, haere mai

I'm Marios, delivering the best of Aotearoa's nature walks to your device.

I've personally walked hundreds of New Zealand's tracks and spent months in libraries uncovering interesting information on New Zealand/Aotearoa. And you'll find a slice of that research on this page - enjoy!

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Photos

Boardwalk - Okura Bush
Amongst the natives....

Information

Okura Bush Walkway

11.7 km one-way | 3 hours one-way

The entire coastline is flanked by the Long Bay-Okura Marine Reserve, formed in 1995. The varied coastline harbours sandy shore communities at Karepiro Bay, inter-tidal zonation on the rocky reefs and abundant food sources for fish and birds in the mudfalts and mangroves near the Okura River.

Walking Track

Access

The start of the track is signposted from the parking area at the sharp left hand corner 1.1km from East Coast Road. Stillwater is signposted 5.5km further on the right.

Track

After 15 minutes the track bears left into the Weiti Esplanade Reserve. This follows the grass foot at the base of the cliffs and is poorly drained. It can be very boggy and muddy after periods of rain.

After 30 minutes the track reaches the mangrove forest next to arching pohutukawa on the shores of the upper Okura River.

At the signpost, the coastal route (45 minutes) is not negotiable 1 hour either side of high tide. Follow the sandy tidal flats and cross the small creek at Dacre Cottage. Follow the marker posts along Karepiro Bay for 10 minutes and climb the wooden stairway at the southern end.

For the next 1½ hours the track winds through coastal forest on a metalled surface. The track is formed and aided by steps and wooden footbridges in steeper places.

The overland route mounts a knoll, which can be muddy and slippery after rain. The southern section is very steep.

Geology

This coastline is a good example of the upper Waitemata area, exhibiting the rocks of the Waitemata series. Sandy beaches, rocky platforms, shoreline mudflats and mangroves.

Flora

The coastal forest has some unusual tree specimens. An arching pohutukawa over the track, a nikau trunk which grows in a right angle and the base of a kauri trunk that resembles the prow of a waka. A dense forest of nikaus is regenerating beneath the dense canopy.

Fauna

Pied Oystercatchers and stilts fossick in the mudflats.

European History

Dacre Cottage is a lovingly restored and frequently vandalised brick building nestled on the coastal flats at the fertile mouth of a river valley. It is situated back from the beach beside a chuckling creek.

Built by a Ranulf Dacre in the 1850s, it’s interior is restored in the period of the day. Take time to read the ‘Proclamation’ on the door. Henry Dacre and his progeny farmed the area until 1963.

Details

Feature Value Info

Organisation

DOC Auckland

Central government organisation

Location

North IslandAuckland RegionAlbany

Categories

  • Activity__walking_and_trekkingWalking
  • Free

Directions

To Coordinates

Coordinates

-36.6700711864506

174.710083007812

Latitude
-36.6700711864506
Longitude
174.710083007812

Nearby

Reviews

    • Very muddy and not so interesting.
    • Good medium rated walk.
    • Lovely, easy walking.
    Rating Count Percentage
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  • 4.0/5

    Lovely, easy walking.

    Perfect for running because the track is very well maintained. Beautiful bush with historic cottage at a quiet beach at the 1/2 way point. Lovely walk just north of Auckland!

    Reviewed almost 9 years ago and experienced in December 2015

  • 4.5/5

    Great walk through native bush and arriving on a beautiful empty beach.

    Great walk!

    Reviewed almost 12 years ago

  • 4.0/5

    Good medium rated walk.

    Well worth doing.

    Reviewed about 13 years ago and experienced in March 2011

  • 2.5/5

    Very muddy and not so interesting.

    Reviewed almost 15 years ago

  • 5.0/5

    This short walk provides you in some kind of micro cosmos with a bit of everything you can find in New Zealand

    Reviewed almost 15 years ago and experienced in March 2009