The Banks Peninsula track

Forest and Bird, Volume 22, Issue 4, 1 November 1991, Page 3

The Banks Peninsula track

Mark Armstrong

B ANKS PENINSULA has long been a special place for many New Zealanders, drawn to its two superb harbours and its picturesque rugged countryside. First discovered in 1770 by James Cook and named after Joseph Banks, botanist on the Endeavour, it was thought to be an island until 1809. Holiday-makers from as far away as Auckland spend their summers here, many of them in the charming seaside village of Akaroa, the town that so nearly became a French colony in 1840 and still quietly states its romantic past in street and family names, old grape vines and quaint, rosecovered cottages. The south eastern corner of Banks Peninsula has always been the most remote; farmed by a handful of isolated families and, up until the last few years, seldom visited by outsiders. When the whole east coast of New Zealand was hit by one of the worst droughts in living memory (1989), the rural populace had to look to diversification as a means of survival. Those separated from civilisation by high, rough and sometimes snow-covered roads were very receptive to

any ideas not involving travel. When a four-day walking track was mooted, ears pricked up and a business was on the drawing board. The result is a charming mixture of stock and horse tracks, open farmland, musterers’ huts, old cottages and superb coastal scenery, all put together with the individuality of eight different landowners and mixed with a wonderful sense of history. The 30 kilometre track has two shorter sections giving time for bird-watching, swimming, fishing and beachcombing.

Gullies filled with lowland forest, small streams and waterfalls are very special features. One beautiful area of red beech is the pride and joy of that well-known bikeriding botanist and conservationist, Hugh Wilson of Hinewai. Not to be taken lightly, the track has some testing sections, so good boots and wet-weather gear are essential. Hut accomodation is provided. In setting up the track, great care was taken to see that flora and fauna were not adversely affected by passing walkers. The 1989/90/91 seasons were telling ones for local bird populations, with fluctuations in food supply, disease and predators all taking a toll. Despite this, the organisers are enthusiastically preparing for the track’s third season, after seeing a number of positive benefits for walkers, farmers and wildlife. For contact details see advertisement on the Bulletin page. ¥