- Hike the K2K Walk in New Zealand - Wendy Craig
Jenny Hood and her husband Shane, farming at Glorit, north of Auckland, were looking at ways to diversify their income in such a way that Jenny could be a stay-at-home mum to their young family. Along with their long-time friends, Steve and Clare Dill, also farmers, they came up with an idea to use their greatest assets - their land and the facilities on it. They created a new business venture - the K2K Walk.
Planning the Kaipara2Kaipara Walk
Planning began in 2009 to create a 35 kilometre, three day, self-guided walk that would start at the Dills' farm near Kaipara Flats Village and end on the shores of the Kaipara Harbour at Mataia Homestead on land farmed by Jenny's family for generations.
Along the way, the trail would traverse rolling farmland, steep forested hills, a walkway on Department of Conservation land and the saltmarshes on the edge of the largest harbour in the southern hemisphere.
The two couples spent a lot of time researching, planning and studying topographical maps of the area to see where the trail would best be placed. So the track could link their two farms they needed to approach other landowners along the way for permission to cross their properties also. Issues of concern to the other farmers were people dropping rubbish or leaving gates open so stock might escape. Meetings were held to address these concerns and get input from the landowners.
Once the permissions were assured, the Hoods and Dills set a date for the opening of the K2K walk - October 1, 2010. Then the hard work really began!
Building the K2K Walk
They had to make the track. Over 50 stiles were constructed over fences, so farmers' gates did not need to be opened. Several bridges were built to span creeks. They even built a pontoon to cross one particular waterway.
Existing farm and forestry tracks were linked by building new sections of the trail. Part of the Department of Conservation walkway at Mount Auckland was incorporated into the K2K Walk.
Then the couples walked the track, making adjustments as necessary, according to the conditions of the terrain. They walked it again to mark the trail with orange plastic arrows. And again to put even more markers along the way.
Conservation and Eco-Friendly Aspects of the Kaipara2Kaipara Walk
Conservation of natural features, flora, fauna and birdlife was uppermost in the minds of the Hood and Dill partners when they planned the walk. Shane Hood in particular is passionate, and very knowledgeable, about the birds living in the area. Some rarely seen native birds, migratory species and some endangered birds live in the forest and shorelines and saltmarshes encompassed by the walk.
The Hoods and Jenny's family are working on their land, with input from the Department of Conservation, to create a conservation block that should see, in the next two or three years, the release of kiwi. At present, a major effort is being put into predator control. Once the area has been deemed free of predators such as stoats, weasels and feral cats for a certain amount of time, then kiwi can be introduced there.
Eco-friendly aspects incorporated into the facilities at the accommodations on the K2K Walk include solar panels and wind turbines for power, an eco-toilet, and barbecue for cooking at the farm hut used on the second night of the hike.
Extra Facilities on the K2K Walk
Many hikers, in fact, about 80% of them, have taken advantage of extra facilities offered on the walk. Full catering and the carrying of bags can be booked, which leave the hikers unburdened on the walk and looking forward to healthy meals along the way.
Jenny and Clare are kept busy with this side of the operation. They use produce grown in their own extensive vegetable gardens, bake fresh bread and use lamb from the farm to create the meals.
Feedback provided by those who have done the Kaipara2Kaipara Walk has been overwhelmingly positive. The excellent accommodation, and friendly personal contact given by Shane and Jenny, Clare and Steve, to their visitors has been very important to those hiking the K2K Walk.
Wendy Craig - Wendy is a freelance writer whose work has appeared in newspapers, magazines, anthologies and travel books in New Zealand and U.K.
