We Develop Walking Tracks
The primary objective of the Trust is the development of a network of walking tracks in the Langs Beach area and linking those tracks with tracks in the surrounding area. This will enable locals and visitors to enjoy the beauty of our local environment.
The Trust was formed in 2020 and many many hours of volunteer time have been given to the work. As a result, progress has been significant. The Trust maintains and continuously improves the Waipu Coastal Walkway, the Nikau Forest Walk, The Langs Beach to Bream Tail Road shared user path and the Langs Beach Scenic Reserve track. Tracks in the area have grown to become an attractive amenity for those who wish to enjoy this beautiful landscape.
In 2025 WTT identified the ‘TopTen Trails’ in and around Langs Beach and presented them in the very popular toplless pad format widely distributed in Langs Beach, Waipu Cove, Uretiti, Ruakaka and Whangarei. The map links to the AllTrails app. (Click link above to find out more about specific trails or download the map to your phone)
Our Projects - Future Vision : The Bream Bay Trail
Now that the immediate network of walking/shared use tracks around Langs Beach is largely complete, the focus of the Wairahi Tracks Trust has widened to support the development of a ‘Bream Bay Trail’ from Marsden Cove to Mangawhai. It is a big goal, but the outcome will boost tourism and provide multiple exciting opportunities for recreational walking and cycling. As an example, the owner of Te Waorahi, a 190ha block on the ridgeline behind Langs beach ( see on map above) has become part of the Trust and has extensive plans for the development of mountain bike trails and the restoration of his land. Track building work in this area will be linked with the Te Araroa trail which runs through the property.
Section 1: Marsden Cove to Ruakaka is a Shared User Path for walkers and cyclists from Marsden Cove to the centre of Ruakaka. About a kilometre of concrete formed pathway has been laid following a blessing ceremony led by Patuharakeke, the local community group driving this project along with the Whangarei District Council.
Section 2: Ruakaka to Waipu. Wairahi Tracks Trust is part of very early discussion and planning for this section. It covers Uretiti and the sand dunes pipeline. There is a rough track already in place here.
Section 3: Waipu to Waipu Cove (See Waipu Cove Trail on map above ). Work on this section has been led from its inception by the Waipu Cycle and Walkway Trust, a local community group. This has involved years of concerted fundraising efforts. This section of the trail is nearly complete. Click the link at the top of the page to find out more.
Section 4: Waipu Cove to Langs Beach. This project is at an early stage. Discussion and investigation is underway on a proposal to build a bridge over the stream at the far end of Waipu Cove. (Periwaka). This will allow better access at all tides to the Waipu Coastal Walkway and the possibility of a shared user path to Lang’s Beach.
Section 5: Langs Beach to Bream Tail Rd. ( See Langs to Bream Tail path on the map above.) This Shared User Path was developed in 2024 by the Wairahi Tracks Trust with generous fundraising from the community. At Bream Tail Rd the path links to Te Waorahi and the Mangawhai Cliffs Walk. This section of trail is complete. Click the link at the top of the page to find out more.
Section 6: Bream Tail Rd to Mangawhai. Serious planning and discussion for this Shared User Path has been underway for some time. The topography of the Mangawhai gorge naturally presents a challenge but progress is being made.
We Support Natural Habitat Restoration
The Wairahi Tracks group initially worked to restore two areas at Langs Beach. These are the Langs Beach Scenic reserve, the entrance to which is across the road from the carpark, and the Nikau Forest walk, which lies beside the road on the approach to Langs from the South. This area follows both sides of the stream from the bridge at Lang Cove to the bridge at the entrance to Langs Beach Estate. The scenic reserve is administered by the Department of Conservation while the grassy area leading to the Nikau Forest walk is administered by the Whangarei District Council.
As the focus of the group has widened to include all the tracks mentioned above, the work has grown and many many hours of volunteer labour have been required to remove invasive weeds and start to restore the natural habitat.
The first task: remove weeds and pests
When work first began in the reserve the most overwhelming problem was vast areas of head-high ginger plants. The task seemed impossible. Many days of weed whacking and slash and paste techniques by local and DoC volunteers were needed to get rid of the majority of the ginger. Then volunteers tackled infestations of climbing asparagus fern, blackberry, pampas, woolly nightshade, and cotoneaster; spraying, weed eating, hand pulling and chopping .
In the Nikau Forest area the pest plants included climbing asparagus fern, ladder fern and many montbretia and watsonia bulbs that required hand removal. We sprayed and weeded jasmine, pampas, onion weed, nasturtium, and morning glory, as well as out of control wisteria that was smothering the trees. Much of this walkway is still weedy so is a ‘work in progress’ but ultimately it will be a lovely spot for a picnic by the river.
The next task: plant and regenerate the area
It is exciting when we can begin to plant in newly cleared areas . In the Langs Beach Scenic reserve, which is a natural wetland, we are following a planting plan commissioned from “Rural Design.”
In the reserve, as is the case with all our planting, we chose plants which are native to our particular area. For the wetland these were sedges, reeds, manuka, kanuka, cabbage trees (tī kōuka) and kahikatea and more recently kowhai and native hibiscus as well as five-finger (whauwhaupaku), kahikatea, flaxes (harakeke), manuka and kanuka. On the coastal walkway we needed hardy coastal plants and native flaxes to shore up the steep slopes.
The work involved in these two areas has set the pattern for all the tracks. Volunteers involved in weeding, spraying, and planting, work beside others involved in building steps , forming paths and spreading gravel . As in the two initial areas, the work is never ‘complete’. Weeds keep growing, plants need watering, rabbits and pukekos have an endless appetite for baby plants. As the track work has expanded so has the need for restoration and ongoing maintenance. Some of the new trails have become major projects. For instance work on the Waipu Coastal Walkway has been extensive - particularly after significant slips required extensive planting to restore the slopes.
We Undertake Predator Control
Predator control has been undertaken in the Langs Beach Scenic Reserve since December 2020 under the guidance of Waipu Kiwis. Targeted species are predominantly rats, possums and stoats. A network of traps has been placed throughout the reserve utilising the access tracks that have been constructed by the Wairahi Tracks Charitable Trust. This comprises 10 possum traps, approximately 15 rat traps and 5 stoat traps. The traps are complemented by the use of a track camera to ensure the traps are placed in optimal locations and most desirable lures are used.
There are currently low numbers of predators being trapped in the reserve – time will tell whether this is seasonal or if we have managed to get them under control, although it seems that it is reasonably easy to catch the young and naïve animals but much harder to capture the older wiser ones that can be trap shy. We are hoping that as a result of the predator control being undertaken in the reserve and adjoining properties there will be an increase in bird life after this nesting season and one day we will be able to hear bellbird (korimako) and kiwi in our local area.
If you would like to take part in this rewarding (and fitness-building!) activity, please contact Kathryn via email to info@wairahitracks.nz.
We Strengthen Community Involvement
As part of the Wairahi Tracks Trust plan for Langs Beach, the Friday ‘Trackies’ have met each Friday at 9.00 am. After a short Health and Safety briefing, the work begins on making tracks, clearing, spraying, mulching or planting as the programme demands in the current project for the Langs Beach area.
People have been so generous with their time and their equipment: spraying units, tractors, mulching machines. The added bonus to this working party is the now famous bacon and egg pie, made by Christine Birss which appears every Trackies Friday at 11.00 over morning tea and chat. Countless volunteer hours have been put into this effort, both at Trackies and in private time.
In May 2024 we completed Friday Trackies no. 200 !
The Saturday ‘Weedies’ meet on a Saturday morning at 10.00am generally for two hours. This group is largely responsible for planting, plant maintenance and weeding. On the 3rd Saturday each month, the group also works on removing weeds along the Waipu Coastal Trail. Again countless hours have been donated to the cause.
A huge thank you goes out to all those who have worked so hard. The flip side is the great camaraderie and friendships that have developed, and the satisfaction of a job well done.
