Popular Hunua track reopens

6 April 2004

The popular Cossey Massey Loop Track in the Hunua Ranges Regional Park will reopen on Wednesday April 7, just in time for the upcoming school holidays.

It has been closed for nearly three years to allow Watercare Services to do extensive dam restoration work on the nearby Cosseys Dam.

The rewarding, three-hour loop track begins beside Hunua Falls and offers walkers long range views over the Cosseys Dam and surrounding native-forest covered Hunua Ranges. Walkers will see an impressive stand of kauri and a variety of bird life.

The track, which combines Cossey Gorge track and the Massey track, is all metalled and benched. However, it is steep in places and involves walkers paddling or rock hopping across Cosseys Creek

“The Hunua Ranges Regional Park offers a variety of activities - remote experience tracks to test your bush skills, mountain bike tracks or a beautiful location to relaxing with a picnic by Hunua Falls,” ARC Parks and Heritage Committee Chair Bill Burrill says.

While the main track was closed, Watercare Services in partnership with the ARC developed a smaller loop track also accessible from the Hunua Falls area. The 30-minute Hunua Falls loop walk provides views of the falls and the surrounding forest from all angles. This track is pleasant shorter alternative to the main three-hour track.

To get to Hunua, head south on State Highway 1 (Southern Motorway) and take the Papakura off-ramp. Turn left and follow Beach Road across Great South Road and along Settlement Road. Turn right by Edmund Hillary School into Hunua Road, which takes you to the Hunua Ranges and the Hunua Falls.

Hunua Regional Park is just one of the 21 regional parks managed by the Auckland Regional Council. For more information on regional parks visit www.arc.govt.nz or call 09 366 2000.

ENDS

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