SATURDAY APRIL 21 CAPE COLVILLE www.echowalkfest.org.nz Orokawa Bay – William Wright Falls echo Leaving from the Northern end of Beach follow the undulating track with breathtakingly beautiful coastal views, pass by popular rock fishing spots and walk WALKiNG through timeless native bush. Orokawa Bay emerges as a stunningly beautiful, pohutukawa fringed beach. From there the track leads up to William Wright Falls. FESTiVAL Includes several small stream crossings, gorgeous native nikau palms and abundant KAIMAI TO COROMANDEL birdlife. Bring a picnic lunch. 10 - 22 April 2012 echoecho DURATION: 4-5 hours TRACK GRADING: 4 (includes stream COROMANDEL START: 9am crossings) TOWN

Hot Springs Domain to Tui Mine - return WHITIANGA Visit the site of the Tui mines on Mt Te Aroha and see stage two of the remediation project underway before returning via the same track to the Hot Springs Domain for WALKiNG and optional dip at the hot pools. Ph 07 884 8717 to book a private mineral spa at the Te Aroha Mineral Spas or take the family to the Te Aroha Leisure Pools for some outdoor fun. DURATION: 4-5 hours TRACK GRADING: 4-5 START: 9am FESTiVAL Mining Days – Journey Back In Time THAMES KAIMAI TO COROMANDEL Along the dark path you will meet up with various interesting characters that will bring Karangahake’s history and gold mining past to life. Bring your torches and warm coats for a family night walk adventure that will be mysterious and exciting. Includes glow 10 - 22 April 2012 worms. DURATION: 2 hours TRACK GRADING: 2 START: Staggered start from 7pm - 7.30pm SUNDAY APRIL 22 WAIHI Magnificent Muriwai This stunning costal walk between Port Jackson and the Muriwai Carpark on the road to KATIKATI Fletcher Bay has magnificent views across to Great Barrier Island (Aotea Island) and the TE AROHA Hauraki Gulf. Please bring your lunch and sturdy footwear. DURATION: 2 - 2 ½ hours TRACK GRADING: 2-3 START: 11am TRACK GRADINGS Tides Out & The Beach Has Gone To The Dogs Hi, my name is Rusty and if you are well socialised, like to run freely along the beach, 1 Suitable for most walkers. swim in the surf and chase sticks and balls then I would like to meet you. My owner tells me we are heading to the beach for a walk. My boss says you can come to my place and 3 Includes short steep or rough sections. Moderate fitness hose off when the walk is finished. We live right by the beach. The kind folk at Beach Vets level required. have agreed to sponsor the walk so there will be some treats and cool things that we may get to take home with us. DURATION: 1 hour return TRACK GRADING: Beach walk 5  Challenging steep sections, rough areas or river crossings. A START: 1pm high level of fitness required. PLEASE NOTE: Participants are responsible for their own safety equipment, food, water, clothing and vehicles. Please see the website for full health and safety details.

To register for our walks please visit our website www.echowalkfest.org.nz or contact the local information centres or i-SITE EVENT SUPPORTERS Coromandel (07) 866 8598 Katikati (07) 549 1658 Paeroa (07) 862 8636 Te Aroha (07) 884 8052 Thames (07) 868 7284 Go Waihi (07) 863 3030 Whitianga (07) 866 5555 Participation is free but your donation is appreciated ENJOY CONNECTiNG HiLLS AND OCEANS... TUESDAY APRIL 10 SATURDAY APRIL 14 Waiorongomai Rails and Trails A perfect introduction to the Waiorongomai Valley for all ages. A well graded loop track Otanewainuku Puzzle Be Sure Of A Wet Surprise follows the Waiorongomai stream before stopping at the base of Butlers Incline for morning Take a family-friendly walk with a difference at the stunning Otanewainuku Forest. Kids and To get to the Aongatete swimming pools, follow a bulldozed track for about 15 minutes as you head tea. Follow the Piako County Tramline through the bush, past an old mine. adults will both delight at a game designed to test skills of observation, as you enjoy the birds off onto the right along a cut track of mostly second growth bush to the river. This is a trip for the sure DURATION: 3 hours TRACK GRADING: 3 and the plant life in this protected piece of native forest near Oropi. footed and those prepared to get a bit wet as you traverse up the riverbed (about 300 metres) to DURATION: 2 hours TRACK GRADING: 1-2 some attractive cascades and pools, a favourite swimming place for youngsters in summer. START: 10am START: 10.30am DURATION: 1 ½ hours return (including ½ hour swimming time) WEDNESDAY APRIL 18 Following the Dreams of the Cornish Miners START: 11am TRACK GRADING: 1 Whitianga-nui-a-Kupe Journey back in time as you walk along a wide road leading off the upper Waitekauri Rd into Into the Valley – Waiorongomai Discovery Breathe life into the story of Kupe, Polynesia's famous explorer, on an easy walking trail the Grace Darling Valley. The track follows the stream past two battery sites, where the bones This full day loop tramp takes you to the upper reaches of the Waiorongomai Valley taking in some highlighting Whitianga's place in early Maori history. The walk starts and finishes at the of the old cyanide tanks and a mulloch heap are still visible, toward the Grace Darling Mine. Be significant historic sights from the gold mining days, including the remains of Malcolm Hardy’s Hut Whitianga Wharf. This is an easy walking trail highlighting an area that has a significant place prepared to get your feet wet as there are four stream crossings each way. and recent restoration work by DOC. in New Zealand's history. Te Whitianga-nui-a Kupe (The Great Crossing Place of Kupe) is the DURATION: 5 hours TRACK GRADING: 4 DURATION: 6 hours TRACK GRADING: 5 original name for this area. START: 9am START: 9am DURATION: 2 ½ hours TRACK GRADING: 1-2 Hellooooo Mr Weta! Coromandel Coastal Walkway START: 10am Meet a Weta in the wild and take away an appreciation of these endangered New Zealand The walkway showcases the beauty and solitude of the remote upper Coromandel and offers The Adventures Of Mt Eliza creatures. A fun and informative day for all the family at the Kauaeranga Visitor Centre near breath-taking views of offshore islands including Great Barrier, Cuvier and Mercury and the Hauraki Dropping off Thompsons Tack into the Waitekohe Stream, this track sidles above the stream Thames. Gulf and Pacific Ocean. This is a natural gem that everyone should experience at least once in their along an old pack track constructed about the turn of the 20th century to service mining DURATION: 1-2 hours TRACK GRADING: 1 lifetime. Some transport available. Please book transport through [email protected]. activity. Some gold was discovered in the area and prospectors put several shafts and drives START: 11am WALKING TIME: 20-30 minutes DURATION: 8 hours (including travel) TRACK GRADING: 4 into Mt Eliza (the longest being 187 metres long). The track passes the sites of several shafts, START: 8.30am WALKING TIME: 3 -4 hours open cuts and adits. WEDNESDAY APRIL 11 CAR TRAVEL TIME: 4 hours return TRANSPORT COST: $25 DURATION: 4 hours return TRACK GRADING: 4 Dam those Kauris START: 8.30am The Lindemann track takes you past several Kauri dams that operated in the Wairoa catchment SUNDAY APRIL 15 in the Kauri logging days of the early 1900’s. Along the track are excellent views over the Wairoa Conveyor Belt Boogie THURSDAY APRIL 19 and Waitengaue Valleys plus the Ananui Falls are clearly visible. The Pack Track leads you in a Take a golden trip behind the scenes of the Martha Mine workings in Waihi. Go under, up, through Aongatete Mystery loop back to the road past the site of the old cookhouse of a logging camp. and over as you travel the 2.7km conveyor belt route from the mine to the processing plant, taking Where have the giant trees gone? Follow a trail through lowland forest near Katikati in search DURATION: 3 hours return TRACK GRADING: 2 in the unique views and historic sites along the way. Limited numbers, so registrations essential. of the mighty trees of NZ bush such as rimu, rata, tawa and pukatea. The walk, suitable for START: 8.30am Not suitable for pushchairs or young children. all ages, is on an even grade but includes some trickier sections off track amongst the bush. Union Hill Moon Walk DURATION: 2 ½ hours return TRACK GRADING: 3 DURATION: 2 hours TRACK GRADING: 2-3 Meander up through the bush clad Union Hill imagining the Old Miners descending down the START: 10am START: 9.30am many shafts that still exist. The relics and ghosts of Waihi's mining past can be seen amidst the NB: This walk is dependent on operational requirements of the mine at that time. Sturdy Wairere Falls to Te Tuhi regenerated bush and landscape. Union Hill was once the site of the Waihi Battery and several closed in shoes are a must. Ascend and traverse the Kaimai Ranges in an historic and scenic crossing as experienced by historical relics remain, including the huge concrete cyanide tanks, the Waihi Battery stamp “She’ll Be Coming Round the Mountain” Maori and early settlers via the spectacular Wairere Falls track. foundations, kilns and drives. Bring your torch. One foot in front of the other for the steep climb to the Karangahake Mountain summit and DURATION: 6 hours TRACK GRADING: 5 DURATION: 1-1 ½ hours TRACK GRADING: 2-3 magnificent views to the east and the west. This walk will take the long road home that ambles START: 9am START: 5.30pm right around the back of the mountain through huge tawa trees. NB: This walk is dependent on operational requirements of the mine at that time. Sturdy Cathedral Cove DURATION: 5 hours TRACK GRADING: 5 The 2.5 kilometre walking track from the car-park gives access to Gemstone Bay, Sting Ray closed in shoes are a must. START: 9.30am Bay and the beautiful sandy beaches at Cathedral Cove separated by a natural rock arch. Swim out and explore the south cliffs sea caves, wade into each one to find dry and secret THURSDAY APRIL 12 MONDAY APRIL 16 beaches. Bring a picnic, water and good walking shoes and we will spend an hour before Falls for Dinner Cooks Discovery returning. Work up an appetite as you make your way along the historic walkway from Karangahake to Walk in the footsteps of Captain Cook as you enjoy this historic area from the comfort of the ferry, DURATION: 1 ½ - 2 hours return TRACK GRADING: 4 emerge at the beautiful Owharoa Falls and the nearby Falls Retreat Bistro where a sumptuous then walk from beach to cliff-top and back again. Ride the ferry to Ferry Landing and walk up START: 10am dinner menu is available from their wood fired oven. Returning along the same path in the Purangi Rd to Front Beach, past Flaxmill Bay and up to Shakespear Cliff. Stop for a picnic lunch moonlight will add a new dimension to the walk home. Torches optional. Money required for and watch the re-enactment of Cook's Landing, then head off down past Lonely Bay to the FRIDAY APRIL 20 your meal. Maramatotara Track, the Pa Site and back to Ferry Landing. DURATION: 3 ½ hours TRACK GRADING: 1 Cookson Kauri DURATION: 2 - 3 Hours TRACK GRADING: 2 Leaving from the Wainora Campground, walk along a well-graded walking track with steps START: 5.30pm START: 9.30am COST: Ferry return $4/adult; $2/child and bridges across the Wainora Stream to the Magnificent Cookson Kauri. Please bring your FRIDAY APRIL 13 Te Aroha Glow Worms lunch and sturdy footwear. History, night owls and glow worms feature on this easy night time exploration of the Lower DURATION: 2 ½ - 3 hours TRACK GRADING: 2-3 Waihi Express – Train and Trek Domain tracks in Te Aroha. Comfortable footwear, warm clothing and a torch required. START: 10am Explore the quieter side of the on this combined train trip and trek. Discover the Goldfields Railway and follow the Ohinemuri River to the stunning Owharoa Falls DURATION: 1 hour TRACK GRADING: 2 Wentworth Valley Falls through historic goldmining remains at . Ideal outing for the whole family. START: 7pm Come and discover the Wentworth Valley. This walk travels alongside the lovely Wentworth DURATION: 1-2 hours walk TRACK GRADING: 1 TUESDAY APRIL 17 River with a good view of the beautiful Wentworth Falls about 50m in two separate cascades. START: 9.45am Medium fitness, good walking shoes, bring your lunch. COST: Train tickets $10 return per adult. 2 children per adult free. Additional children’s Broken Hills DURATION: 3 hours TRACK GRADING: 3 With the Golden Hills Mine Area, the 500-metre long mining tunnel that you walk through on a START: 10am tickets $8 historic loop track Collins Drive provides an opportunity to experience a real underground mine Paeroa to Waitekauri Packhorse Track system. This tunnel was driven through the hill in a fruitless attempt to find a quartz reef with Dubbo to Dickie’s Flat This track was established in 1875 to take supplies and equipment from Paeroa to the payable ore. You will need a torch or headlamp. Set off up the lower slope of the Karangahake Mountain then taking the Dubbo Access Track flourishing Waitekauri township. Climbing steadily upward from Reservoir Rd it offers views DURATION: 3 hours TRACK GRADING: 3 across a saddle to Dickies Flat for a swim and picnic lunch, returning along the Waitawheta River through the pipeline tunnel (torch advisable) past old mine shafts, through the Gorge over the from the top, then descends through bush to the Waitekauri Valley. START: 10am DURATION: 6 hours TRACK GRADING: 5 and back to the car park. START: 9am DURATION: 4-5 hours TRACK GRADING: 3.5 TRANSPORT COST: $20 (to be paid at time of registration) START: 10am