Lucy’s Gully
Buy supplies for a picnic in Ōakura and make the 20-minute drive to Lucy’s Gully, a serene nature reserve among towering redwoods in the Kaitake Ranges. A highly respected Māori woman named Ruhira Matekai (also known as Lucy Stevens) was born here in 1820 and lived and gardened here throughout her life. Lucy’s Gully is also the starting point for the Sefton Track walking trail, which takes around three hours and links to the longer Waimoku Track.
Egmont National Park
Ōakura is a great base for exploring Egmont National Park, which spans more than 200 square miles of stunning mountain scenery, subalpine forest, and waterfalls and offers a wide range of walking paths. Take the boardwalk Mangorei Track to the reflective lake for fabulous views of Mount Taranaki, or walk to Henry Peak Lookout through a landscape of alpine tussock. Another easy path is the 30-minute Kamahi Loop, which includes a forest of gnarled kāmahi trees draped with moss and ferns.
Te Koru Pā
Te Koru Pā is one of the few Māori fortified village sites in New Zealand where you can still clearly see the remains of stone defensive walls and food storage pits. This centuries-old site is a great place to learn about Māori history. You can walk to the site in around 15 minutes on a path that crosses fields leading to the river, and you will soon be surrounded by native forest and birdsong.