Orewa - Alice Eaves Reserve

Before I met with the intrepid North Shore Nordic Walkers on Mothering Sunday, I was presented at 6.00 am in the morning amid lots of clattering in the kitchen, a beautifully made cooked breakfast consisting of two hard boiled eggs, bacon, beans, two crumpets and a toasted teacake by my two beautiful children.  Needless to say by the time I met the group at Orewa Surf club at 7.30 am I was fit to burst!

Orewa Beach and Surf Club

Orewa is a small town North East of Auckland city centre, the beach is ideal for Nordic Walking. It is 3 kilometres of long sandy beach situated on the Hibiscus coast, home to surfers, kayakers, kite surfing, wind surfing and swimming.  You can also catch the Orewa Surf Club life guard training and events down on the beach on a Sunday. The clubhouse was originally first built in 1960 although the club history dates it back to the 50’s. It was added to in the 70’s but  in 1990 the clubhouse was finally finished and is now located in pole position adjacent to the beach at the South end.


Road to Alice Eaves Bush

The morning was cold but sunny and ideal Nordic Walking weather, so we wrapped up and ventured forth.

We walked to the North end of the beach and crossed over the Hibiscus Coast Highway to The Old North Road and into the entrance for Alice Eaves Reserve.


Kauri Tree over 300 years old

There is a massive Kauri in this reserve over 300 years old and the area is brimming with native trees like Puriri, Rimu,Totara and Nikau, you definately get the sense of history walking amongst some of these ancient trees.

There is a Pa not far from the Hillcrest boundary; apparently it has a few middens that indicate it was previously used as a living area by Maori tribes people in the area and was lived in until around 1827. The land was taken over by European settlers and was eventually purchased by Mr & Mrs Eaves in 1919. When Alice Eaves died in 1955 she bequeathed the land back to the nation.


Nukumea Stream Walkway

The reserve is maintained by the Lions club, they have signage on the gates and signposts at some of the trees.

We walked through the Reserve on the lower track which takes you along a wooden walkway that runs adjacent to the Nukumea Stream and the Kensington Park development.

The Blue Footprints for the Millenium Footpath

The track does go on further but there is no walkway and can be very slippery underfoot, we continued along until we came to the point where the track became unsafe.  We then headed back to the stream and the crossing at Kensington Park. There is a higher track that leads onto the Pa area but we'll leave that for another day.

We then walked through the new housing area and back onto the millennium path at Puriri Ave continuing along the road and back across the highway onto the beach.

The Clock Tower on Puriri Ave

The group unzipped and de-coated feeling very warm, some of us made it over to the King’s Plant Barn for coffee.  I really couldn’t face another breakfast so I ordered a berry smoothie again.
Information & Sources:

http://www.orewasurfclub.co.nz/history.html
http://www.rodney.govt.nz/DistrictTownPlanning/plans/ReserveManagement/Documents/Alice_Eaves/AliceEaves_Amended_Plan_March08.pd