Need2Know: Egmont National Park tracks up

Egmont National Park tracks upgraded

By Ian McAlpine

Over the last 18 months has seen two Egmont National Park iconic trekking tracks up-graded as part of the Pouakai Crossing Trek and the Taranaki Crossing Trek projects.

These tracks have been contracted to the professional track builders, Milton Harward Construction Ltd by the Department of Conservation to up-grade sections of Wetlands areas.

This section of track crosses the unique wetlands of the Ahukawakawa Swamp and has been completed by building a raised board-walk walkway track half a metre above the wetland vegetation, allowing users dry feet and a comfortable view of these rare plant growing there.

The other section up-graded is the wetlands from the Pouakai Range Plateau eastwards down to the icon Pouakai Tarns.

This is byway of building a raised

Above A reflection of the mountain in the Pouakai Tarns. Below left: The new boardwalk to the Pouakai Tarns. Below right: Building the boardwalk.

board-walk walkway track half a metre above the wetland vegetation.

This allows travellers to travel mud free to the tarn which in the right weather conditions is a reflection of Mt Taranaki in the tarns.

As well the section of 5kms of the Mangorei Track has been completed thanks to Mike Johns Contractors. This track has 4730 timber steps taking trekker on a boardwalk mud free experience from Mangorei Road to Pouakai Hut.

Above top: Ahukawakawa Swamp in the background.. Below left: Fiona Mitchell-Robb on the Ahukawakawa Swamp boardwalk section.

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