This easy walk was originally an important route for the first settlers of the region to gain access to the neighbouring region of Wairarapa. The flat coastal walk is full of history and at the furthest point you are treated with a look around the first lighthouse built in New Zealand and the beautiful Kohangapiripiri and Kohangatera Lakes.
This track is suitable for walking or mountain biking.
There is a public bus service to Burdans Gate, Eastbourne or you can park your own vehicle there or ride your bike straight on through. A great way to arrive on the coast is by ferry from Wellington. For more information on bus and ferry services or bike hire, maps or general information, talk to an i-SITE Visitor Centre.
A return walk to the lighthouses - 4 hoursA return walk to the lakes - 5 hours
While this is an easy walk, plenty of food, water, warm clothes and sun protection are required as there are no facilities and little shelter on the way.
Any dogs must be on a leash for the entire walk to protect birdlife and stock on the neighbouring farm. No dogs are allowed in the lakes block or south of the sea level light house.
Plans to protect shipping coming into Wellington harbour featured almost immediately in settlement plans. As early as 1842 a temporary beacon was erected on Pencarrow Head. As shipwrecks continued to occur, New Zealand's first light house was erected on 1 January 1859. The keeper was New Zealand's only woman light house keeper.
Despite the precautions, the coast remained dangerous to shipping and up to 21 wrecks have been recorded on the Pencarrow coast with the most recent in 1981.
Following the gravel coast walk from Burdans Gate there is immediately a memorial to the Wahine disaster; a ferry grounding which in the rough seas had passengers washed up on this coast line.
The nationally important Lakes Kohangapiripiri and Kohangatera were once tidal inlets but over time earthquakes have raised the foreshore and created a barrier to the sea. The lakes now support wetland vegetation.
If you like this walk you could try the Hutt City Tracks & Trails. Read the descriptions and view the brochure.
While you're in Eastbourne you could stay for lunch or a coffee at one of the many cafes, restaurants or bars.
This is 28km of very easy, flat tracks and pathways that follow the Hutt River from Hikoikoi Reserve on the Wellington harbour foreshore, through to the Akatarawa River in Upper Hutt.
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