Walk Details

NZ Walking Routes > Nelson > Golden Bay > Milnthorpe Park

Milnthorpe Park

Location

Turn right just north of Parapara Inlet (22 km north of Takaka) and then left, following Nelson Street and then Kendal Street to the park.

Description

This shaded area at the road end provides a wonderful place for a picnic. The nearby estuary and coast provide good swimming, although swift currents develop as the tide moves in and out. Many walking tracks allow you to explore the forest, estuary and beach.

This public conservation land is an interesting experiment in forest regeneration, managed by an Incorporated Society under an agreement with the Department of Conservation. Here, a variety of hardy but non-native trees has been planted on very poor soils. The idea of the project is to restore the area's natural forest cover faster than would be possible using only native species. The project began in 1974 and now much of the area is covered in tall trees. The shade beneath them provides just the right conditions for native species to take hold.

A sculpture trail adds interest with lots of surprises to be found, created by local artists and constructed mainly from natural materials found within the park. Nature also adds her own surprises with bright red mushrooms, twisted tree trunks and hidden lakes.

Some tracks leads to beautiful Milnthorpe Beach, and at the end of another you can climb a tree for a view over the park.

Level

Easy

Amenities

• Picnics
• Swimming

Source

www.doc.govt.nz www.goldenbaynz.co.nz

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