FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Shore is the best for walking
January 15, 2004

Get your walking shoes on for the Takapuna to Milford coastal heritage walk. Metro Magazine readers have given it the thumbs up.

The North Shore City Council was last month awarded 'Best Walk' by the magazine's Best of Auckland Readers' Poll 2003.

The walk guides people past historic interest points, known locally as Takapuna's 'Golden Mile'. While multi-million dollar properties add interest to the area, its historic architecture, flora and geology have been preserved.

Heritage advocate and North Shore City Councillor Tony Holman says it's great that North Shore City's beautiful landscape and heritage is being recognised across the region.

"The walk celebrates part of our city's fascinating history with architecturally significant homes, magnificent pohutukawa and oak trees, seawalls with cathedral windows and towers, a fossil forest and even a giant's chair. It's definitely worth the stroll," he says.

Councillor Holman says the walk is one of a series of heritage walks around the city. Other brochures include a Northcote Point walk, Glenfield heritage and literary walks around Devonport, Takapuna and Castor Bay.

"People can experience Northcote Point's cultural and historical origins, Glenfield's rural heritage or find out about well-known authors who live or have lived in the city, and have to some extent been inspired by its unique environment."

Part of the Takapuna to Milford route follows the foreshore and crosses private property thanks to the owners' goodwill. The walk takes about two hours and is recommended at low tide when the fossil forest is most visible and the foreshore more accessible. Walkers are asked to respect the environment and the privacy of local residents, and not to trespass on private property outside the described route. While some of the pathway is not properly constructed, it is the natural state of these paths, particularly near the fossil forest that add to its charm. Walkers are advised to take care.

The walking guides were produced as part of the North Shore City Council's ongoing commitment to heritage preservation. Copies of the heritage and literary walks are available from council offices, libraries, visitor information centres, by contacting Actionline on 486 8600 or people can view them online at www.northshorecity.govt.nz.

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