Archive for October, 2021

Peak Paparoa on track

Tuesday, October 26th, 2021

From October through to the end of April Ces Clarke, Moonlight and Pororari huts all have a warden in place.

They mostly do an eight day on, six day off rotation, so two wardens will call each hut home over these months.

Hut wardens are there to help visitors enjoy their stay whether it’s their first time in the bush or their hundredth.

They make sure the huts are clean and tidy, the gas and water are running, help out with any issues or queries and can give you the latest weather forecast

The wardens know heaps about the track and its stories so make sure you have a yarn to them when you’re up there.

The picture shows them at the waharoa marking the Punakaiki end of the track.

New Punakaiki shared pathway

Tuesday, October 26th, 2021

We are well stoked with the new pathway for walkers and cyclists which runs from the Truman Track to the Punakaiki River, it’s awesome for those of us who live in lovely Punakaiki and for visitors too.

It used to be that to get from one part of Punakaiki to another on foot or bike you had to scuttle along the verge on the side of State Highway 6 making sure you were out of the way of traffic.

Now things are way better – it’s not just walkers and mountain bikers who are enjoying it, wheelchair users and kids learning to ride bikes and scooters reckon it’s pretty darn good too.

The 4.2km pathway is part of the Dolomite Point Redevelopment Project (DPRP) which includes building a new visitor centre to replace the existing DOC facility.

That building design looks amazing and we’re really looking forward to that too.

The pathway was something the community said was a priority during consultations about both the Dolomite Point Redevelopment Project and Buller District Council’s Greater Punakaiki Masterplan.

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency managed the build was carried out by local subcontractors.

Thanks DPRP, BDC and Waka Kotahi – appreciate you listening to us and your mahi!