Ngā Ara Hīkoi ki Aotea – Aotea community walking connections
We are working with Great Barrier Island communities to reconnect walking routes between the settlements in the southern part of the island. Luckily, Aotea Great Barrier has a network of existing unformed legal roads (sometimes called “paper roads”) that connect these settlements. The project has local funding. Herenga ā Nuku’s Regional Field Advisor, Dot Dalziell, is coordinating it, and local volunteers are supporting it.
Which Unformed Legal Roads will be considered for this project?
- Connection between Tryphena and Okupe
- Connection between Tryphena and Oruawharo/Claris
- Connection between Okupu to Claris and Kaitoke Lane
- Connection between Whangaparapara and Okupe
- Connection between Cape Barrier, Rosalie Bay, Tryphena and Oruawharo
- Other ULRs depending on project progress.
The first route we are working on connects along Kaitoke Lane to Okupe (see the map below with a solid purple line representing an unformed legal road between Okupe and Kaitoke Lane). We walked over the route in March and noted the following:
Okupe to Kaitoke Lane
- This is a walkable route – and we talked to people who have walked it in the past!
- The gradient is suitable for walkers with moderate fitness and agility.
- Locals are interested in walking safely between settlements, accessing the land for predator control, and connecting the school community to the school.
- Given that there is legal public access along the unformed legal road, we think it would be best to help people stay on track.
Our plan aims to enhance safety and accessibility for all walkers while preserving the natural environment.
Check out public access on Aotea using our Outdoor Access Maps (WAMS), or download the Pocket Maps App.
