Life at No.22, Walks

Local Walk – Kopurererua Valley Reserve

Suzanne

This gem is approximately a half-hour, fast-paced walk from home to begin meandering around the valley reserve trails.

The beginning takes me through the Waikareao Estuary, my favourite go-to close-to-home place to exercise, onwards via the industrial area; during the week, if walking or cycling, caution is needed on the busy road, so for me, Sunday is the best day to pass through it.

Through the estuary towards K Valley (image taken last December)

From there, I start my journey through a network of tracks around the valley or to the outer suburbs, where coffee can be enjoyed before venturing homewards.

Features and a short version of History

Heading to the top of the Pa site looking towards South – this is before the grasses grew. The small hill on the left has a track to walk/cycle to the top, also giving an expansive view of the valley.

Kopurererua Valley is Tauranga’s 364-hectare inner-city reserve and is one of Australasia’s most extensive urban wetlands. It encompasses low-lying rural land situated between residential neighbourhoods in Tauranga. Over 300,000 native plants have been planted to help regenerate this wetland, resulting in a secluded oasis of easily accessed tracks in which to cycle and walk.

Walking towards the South and coffee – to the right is another area being developed back into wetlands and trails.

Maori History

There is a walkway via steps to the top of an important Pa site – Puketoromiro.

Kopurererua Valley was, for many years, inhabited by the people of Ngāi Tamarāwaho, who are the mana whenua [guardians of the land] of Kopurererua Valley, and this place has special significance to the hapū. It was the main feeder river into the Waikareao Estuary, a food source area, and the staging and retreating path for the Battle of Pukehinahina or Gate Pā and the Battle of Te Ranga, which was fought on 29 April 1864 and 21 June 1864, respectively. For the hapū, the Waikareao Estuary and the Kopurererua Valley are collectively regarded as the kete kai (food baskets) of Ngāi Tamarāwaho.

This goes back to the times when the hapū lived on Motuopae Island and along the Te Papa (where we live) and Ōtūmoetai peninsula, extending right back to the Taumata (Pyes Pā) and onto Ōtanewainuku and Pūwhenua, which are the mountains that mark the limits of their rohe. 

There is always someone who quickens their pace around the trails.
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Published by Suzanne

I'm a lover of creativity and movement, expressed through photography, words, travel and sports. . . . . . .

22 thoughts on “Local Walk – Kopurererua Valley Reserve”

    1. Jo, it’s much easier to write it correctly, thanks to Ms Google, than pronounce the Maori language. As much as I try, I can’t pronounce many Maori words with confidence.

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    1. To be honest, Sarah most times I’m cycling and with others who getting annoyed if I stop too often 😉 When by myself I go for a more leisurely stroll or cycle and take more photos.

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    1. Wetlands are so very important for ecological survival of many species not to mention for the mental health of humans. I enjoy seeing children out with adults cycling or checking out the environment than seeing them heading to a shopping mall. In my humble opinion a city can’t have enough green spaces.

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    1. It is a brilliant way to get from one section of the city to another without using the roading system which is usually congested during business hours and beyond. Not sure there is enough change to do a monthly one, that sort of photograhy is best down the line or in the South Island.

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