Club to celebrate birthday by gifting track to Pukekohe
November 10 this year is Pukekohe Tramping Club’s 50th birthday, and the club is to celebrate by gifting a new trail to the Auckland region. The club designed and created Pukekohe’s new ‘Five Summits Trail’.
The trail starts as soon as walkers or cyclists hop off a train at Pukekohe Station. It will take people on a 21km journey linking the town’s five volcanic hills in a loop.
The track is a valuable addition to the Auckland region’s network of trails, serving the growing number of people who are walking for recreation. Pukekohe is becoming more urban, so this track helps serve those new urban walkers.
Club member Dee Keys is on a subcommittee helping to create the walk. She says Pukekohe’s geological area has several volcanoes around the central town. There are also lots of parks, reserves, and existing paths.
“So it’s sort of putting together what’s already there,” says Dee.
“There are lots of people who already walk around the town and do not know that these lovely little parks and reserves even exist.” says Dee.
“When [a club member who knows all these little tracks] took us on the walk we were hardly on roads at all, and most of us did not even know these little pathways here, there and everywhere could be linked up.”
Dee says support from the Walking Access Commission’s regional field advisor Dot Dalziell has helped get the project off the ground. Dot found where the track needed improved access across land then helped arrange that access.
Dee says because the track’s hub is at the train station it can showcase the town to tourists.
“It really is something very exciting to do.”
In fact, earlier this year when Dot came to check the track from her home in West Auckland she travelled with her bike on the train. She biked the track and loaded the bike back on the train for her journey home.
The track can be walked or cycled in parts – shorter loops link one or two hills back to the trail’s start at Pukekohe station, providing a series of shorter walking journeys.
The Walking Access Commission has supported the new track with an Enhanced Access Grant to help with the cost of designing and printing trail maps. The Franklin Local Board and the Pukekohe Business Association have also provided sponsorship for signage. A sign at the railway station will provide a map and information. On each summit a signboard will explain the geological, historical and cultural significance of each of the five hills.
Dee says the track also has the support of the local Lions Club and Rotary. With most of the path already existing their help may go towards future projects such as bridging a small stream and building some boardwalk.
“It is a great community effort to gift a permanent asset to Pukekohe’s future generations.”