Whenever New Zealand was mentioned, I’ll think of greenery scenery, terrains, and lots of sheep. And I think here, Te Mata Peak Walk, is the best place to portray my imagination.
Te Mata Peak offers 5 different walking tracks that vary in length and difficulty, ranging from 40 minutes to 2.5hours of walk.
After several thought, we picked the longest trail, Giant (Red) circuit. This track best walk anticlockwise and it starts with an easy trail at first.
Sooner you will come to one of the most popular spots, Big Redwoods forest. This grove of 223 California redwoods was planted in 1927 and many are now over 40 metres tall. The redwood is an evergreen and extremely long-lived tree with a life span of 2,500 to 3,500 years.
After the redwood forest, here come the challenging “snakes & ladders”. It is very steep and care is needed. I find myself sometimes sliding backward instead of crawling upwards.
However, you will be rewarded with a stunning view of Hawkes Bay after the difficulty. A series of scarps, spurs, and valleys views can be seen.
Lastly, before descending the trail, you will come to the highlight of the track, the Saddle Lookout. It offers beautiful views east over the Tukituki River and out to the ocean.
Do you know?
There is a romantic love story behind Te Mata names. The outline of Te Mata Peak resembles a man lying down, therefore earning it the name “Sleeping Giant”.
Rating
Experience ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Fitness 💪💪💪
