Community Event: City Nature Challenge Guided Walk

The City Nature Challenge is a great chance to help people connect with their backyards, natural environments, parks and reserves. As part of this city-wide event we are hosting a 2-hour walk through 3 of our southern restoration reserves.

If you would like to make wildlife observations as part of the City Nature Challenge, please bring your smart phone to take photos. You can sign up on the iNaturalist website and use the iNaturalist app to record any wildlife observations, this is of course optional otherwise you can just enjoy the walk and meet some great people!

The meeting point for the walk is at 10.30am at 46a Derwent street in Island Bay at the entrance of Paekawakawa Reserve. Please be on time so we can set off as a group.

The walk will begin at the entrance of Paekawakawa reserve on Derwent Street and head up the valley passing by streams, and through restored native bush in the Paekawakawa reserve. You will be treated to unique vantages of Tapu te Ranga Island and Raukawa Moana (the Cook Strait).

We will then enter the oldest restoration project in Pōneke, Manawa Karioi on Tapu te Ranga Marae land and hike along part of the loop track called Te Ahi Kā with amazing views over Island Bay Valley and back to the city.

We will depart Manawa Karioi on the ridge line and enter into Tawatawa reserve, we will past the reservoir on the City to Sea track stopping for a break at the Lizard Garden with views over Hawkins Hill and the Dog Park.

We will then head back down the hill and there is a picnic spot at the starting point for those who would like to have a picnic lunch.

We are looking forward to meeting you all and sharing our enthusiasm for our Southern reserves. We will have a few spots where we stop to tell you about the 3 reserves. Bring sturdy shoes, water and a picnic lunch and feel free to bring your dog (poo bags and a lead) and any keen children.

Please RSVP so we can keep track of numbers and incase of cancellation due to weather.