Surveying the landscape from the highest point of the Matahuru Valley Walk you’ll most likely be puffing as you take in the wondrous view.
Rolling green hills that cascade into the vast Waikato Plains, and the brilliant blue of distant water around the Firth of Thames.
And you would also have earned the delicious lunch handmade by one of the Matahuru Valley Walk trio – Sian, Kirsten and Mary.
A relative newcomer to New Zealand’s walking trail network, the Matahuru Valley Walk traverses three picturesque working farms in the Waikato and rewards with hearty homecooked meals and a one or two-night stay in the farm homestead.
Despite what the name suggests, the Matahuru Valley Walk is actually two wonderful walks, each loop starting from home base.
An 8km hike over Tui Ridge Farm that climbs through farmland and a QEII protected native bush reserve up to a telecommunications tower with commanding views over the Waikato and Hauraki Region. And a 12km walk across the Mickleson and Waikohu farms with pastoral vistas from Mt Pirongia, west of Te Awamutu to Mt William, south of Auckland’s Bombay Hills and crossing the babbling Matahuru Stream complete with extensive riparian plantings.
The linking together of these northern high-country farms (the highest point on both tracks is 535m) is the brainchild of neighbours Mary Mickleson, Sian Noble-Campbell and Kirsten Evans – the Matahuru Valley Walk hosts, farmers and home cooks.
Friends who had visited their farms respectively always marvelled at the scenery and they felt maybe it was time to open them up as there weren’t many walks on the Auckland, Waikato, Tauranga triangle that offered a hearty hike with hospitality.
The idea evolved, and with some help from Rural Women New Zealand, the trio have created a magnificent rural experience with hiking and home baking – you do the former, they do the latter.
The Tui Ridge homestead sleeps 12 and is comfortably kitted out and boasts a large lounge and dining area for relaxing after a day exploring the trails.
The trails are well-marked, though if like me you are prone to talking while walking, you might occasionally miss a marker. If you haven’t seen an orange triangle for 200m, stop and go back until you find one. It is, however, very hard to get lost.
Gems along the Tui Ridge Farm half day walk include entering the QEII Matahuru Reserve which is fenced off from stock and home to some impressive puriri, rewarewa and kahikatea.
When the trees thin out you hop the fence and follow a spur up to the tops of the Hapuakohe Range where you’ll find an old airstrip. Here you’ll find a track junction – the shortcut goes straight up while a gentler trail to the left winds its way around a crease in the valley. Both ways lead to the trig.
On the way down, take a moment to stop at Grandad John’s seat and lookout, before descending through a series of paddocks, past Frog Bush and back to base.
The full day walk option offers a variety of terrain and elevations, pastural vistas and pockets of podocarp forest. It starts with a gentle climb, involves a stream crossing along the way, has plentiful picnic spots and traverses through Waikohu Bush.
The trails are exposed to the elements so wear sunblock and don’t forget to bring drinking water. The ladies, meanwhile, have your tucker sorted.
It is a private walk so bookings are essential, to book visit matahuruvalleywalk.co.nz
