A TRAIL OF THREE BRIDGES
Dusk, or after a decent storm, are two of the best times to walk the Three Bridges Trail in Stratford in Central Taranaki.
It’s always a pleasant walk, an easy 20 or so minute circuit around King Edward Park, part of the nine-kilometre long bush-clad Carrington Walkway, which follows the Patea River on its journey through Stratford.
This park has a gentle wildness about it that reminds me of New Plymouth’s Pukekura Park several decades ago, when a kid could still ride a bike through it on the way to school.
To begin, park beside the Malone Gates, built in 1923 as a tribute to Colonel William George Malone, who died at Gallipoli, in
1915.
Pass through the wrought iron gates and over a path of golden gravel. To one side are trees planted by people from other Stratfords around the world in
2010.
Trout fishers flick lines over the water at the scout den pool and further along there’s shouts and splashing from a deeper swimming hole.
We’ll cross the Patea for the first time on a scarlet swing bridge.
One night we watched a nimble possum, balanced atop the steel ropes on this bridge, sniggering as our dogs rushed past under it.
Once over the delightfully wobbly bridge, the path plunges into shady bush.
There’s a satisfying scrunch of gravel underfoot, tui, bellbirds and blackbirds calling, and the ever present chuckle of the river in the background.
Turn right to follow the trail towards the second bridge, one favoured by photographers intent on capturing a Tolkien-esque view of mossy rocks and the many greens of bush and trees.
In summer, it’s a tranquil scene, but come on a stormy day and the sleepy river, fed by rain upstream on the mountain, transforms into a surging torrent, swirling brown where the Patea River and Paetahi Stream meet.
The track splits here - there’s a little loop along the stream bank, a less well trodden path where dogs can run unfettered.
Sticking to the main trail, we reach bridge number three.
Look for glow worms in the bank at dusk, and if you tread quietly you can sometimes spot a trout in the pool below.
The track now heads uphill, with two paths both leading to the McCulloch Rhododendron Dell.
The dell, named for rhododendron enthusiast and former parks and reserves committee chairman Ted McCulloch, contains one of Taranaki’s best rhodo collections.
This part of the park is a joy in spring.
Michaelia and magnolia trees burst into bloom in the last dull days of winter, then the rhodos take their turn, with new patches of colour appearing in succession, turning the surrounds of the lawn into a symphony of pinks, reds and yellows.
Although the flowers have mostly finished now it’s summer, the evening air is still scented with the last of the perfumed blooms.
There’s picnic tables here and a duck pond at the end of the dell, with a chorus of frogs croaking if you pass quietly.
The wide grassy track leads back towards town and the ever busy sporting complex - in winter, it’s hockey and netball.
Over summer, twilight tennis games on the courts beside the path mean an observant dog can sometimes find a stray ball in the tussocks and bushes.
This park is beautiful all year round, well worth a visit.