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New Zealand Walks: Nowell’s Lakes Walkway
Nowell’s Lakes Walkway
where you will enjoy nature
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Below left: Main entrance to the walk. Opposite page below right: Entrance to Nowell’s Lake.
Nowell’s Lakes Walkway
where you will enjoy nature
Above: Part of the lake with the Fonterra factory in the skyline. Tucked away at the end of a country road in Hawera, South Taranaki is a most delightful and rustic walkway area with By Judy Evatwo fresh water lakes, riparian plantings, picnic area and views down to the coast.
If you enjoy nature which is thriving in this seven hectares of native bush and bird life this is the walk for you.
There are two main walks which are both different but eye opening and still boasting the remains of the amount of voluntary work that was carried out in this large area, many years ago now sadly in a state of neglect.
As you wander along the walkway there is plenty to see as well as explore, many places to branch off on. The two lakes are entrapped by a sand dune belt. The second lake can be seen when you reach the area by climbing the hill to the lookout and looking north from the top.
Both lakes are fed from aquifers below the ground that in turn are fed from rainwater that falls in the Matemateaonga Ranges.
The lakes are kept free of weed by the carp and eels that live in them. Watch out for frogs now endangered along with many different species of birds also endangered that frequent it. The lake is popular with walkers, some of whom are also bird watchers.
The project for Nowell’s Walkway began in 2002 when the lake gully was retired from farming, the planting was established in 2003 when 6,000 trees were planted.
It was a Fonterra Farms and community group project. Fonterra had retired the gully from farming instead for riparian planting and were pleased to have been involved with the Hawera community.
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Nowell’s Lakes Walkway
where you will enjoy nature
Since then a further 8,000 native trees and grasses have been established including, flax, cabbage, takawa, kowhai and totara.
In 2006 a walkway was built around the lakes so that schools and local communities could enjoy the area. The project is run as part of The Catchment Care Programme Project. The local school children had planted many swan plants along the walkway for the monarchs that can be seen between February and April. We missed out on viewing the monarchs as it was in the winter when we did the walk.
The second part of this walk is the Gully Walk signposted Rotary, down in a dell off the main walkway not far from the entrance (signposted) where you can view what remains of the wonderful work that was created by the many school children, scouts and local volunteers.
Each section has signs, photos and information on the different plants trees, shrubs, sculptures and other projects that were lovingly worked on some taking many hours, now sadly overgrown in places but still delightful to explore.
These are where the specialist gardens are that include hebe shrubs that provide nectar for the monarchs and New Zealand daphne planted for the Taranaki moth.
Wooden bird boxes lovingly made still adorn the tops of trees and shrubs and many more little sign posts with information on all the medicinal plants for your ailments describing in detail for which part of the body they are for and the cure.
I am totally blown away with the effort that has been put into this dell all those years ago it is a must to visit. What a wonderful legacy has been left there, so sad that many of the older mentors are no longer here, taking with them their carpentry and other skills that were the makings of this special now abandoned treasure.
There is a track on the side of the hill and if you climb to the top and struggle through the tangle of bushes and branches you can view the farmland and the coast.
Upon leaving it I had a feeling of sadness that it had once buzzed with the voices of children and all those who made this delightful walk and garden a legacy for future gen-
Above left: The Fonterra Factory across the lake.. Below left: Part of what was the Rotary Children’s Garden.
erations to enjoy, now silent except for the bird song of many different voices and the buzz of bees.
The beginning of the walk is at the end of Rifle Range Road where you will have to park on the roadside. The entrance is a locked gate which leads down a tar sealed road. There is a side gate to use.
You can choose to go straight ahead along the sealed road visiting the Rotary garden on the left, signposted, then carrying on further along the road until you reach the sign for Nowell’s Lake.
We decided to take the extreme right hand track inside the gate which will take you past Tony’s Long Drop but we didn’t bother to investigate.
The track down to the bottom is rough and steep with the remains of old uneven wooden steps but the view and scenery is worth the effort. On reaching the bottom we had to return up to the main tar sealed further along the road turning right.
The entrance to the lake is quite a stroll along the road but is signposted along the way and is off the road to the right, signposted on a farm gate which leads through native shrubbery and then onto farm land. Here it became a bit difficult to find the track to the lake, but after wandering around a bit found it.
The walk was worth the effort as the lake is quite beautiful and across the other side you can the Fonterra Factory. There were some swans in the lake and other wildlife hovering around.
The area which was once a camping ground for scouts and schoolchildren has a couple of picnic tables and a monument depicting a Whareroa Memorial. There was also an area which looked like little plaques on the ground of maybe pets that had been buried there.
On climbing to the top of the hill above the graves to the lookout we
Above left: View from the top of the lookout by the lake. Above right: One of the many bird boxes that were put in the garden.
Nowell’s Lakes Walkway
where you will enjoy nature
had a great view of the surrounding countryside and further along the coast.
There is no loop around the lake you need to return the way you came in and back down the road again. Because we had chosen to take the detour track from the entrance rather than down the tar sealed road we had entered back onto it further past the Rotary Garden and on the way back from the lake were able to visit it.
The garden was on the right of the road at the bottom of the hill, not far from the entrance to the car park.
The complete area has information boards complete with photos of people who gave their skills in the different areas.
Because this lovely wilderness walk is very isolated I recommend a walking partner if you feel at all nervous on your own. There is cell phone coverage.
Above: The steps down from the lookout back to the lake. Middle left: Entrance to the Rotary Gardens. Below left: Crossing the farmland area to get to Nowell’s Lakes.
I recommend sturdy walking shoes, not suitable for sandals. I would class the walk as moderate but not suitable for anyone unsteady on their feet or with limited walking abilities as it is hilly uneven and rough. It took us probably three hours as we dawdled and spent time in the Gully Rotary Garden.
The walk is 3 km and normally classed as an hour and a half. You can also explore a secondary walk which we didn’t do, The Maram Walk pink lined on the map that leads to a short walk toward the coast. Take a picnic and enjoy. Best in the summer spring and autumn.
To get to Nowells lake, take Manawapou Road off SH3 in Hawera, passing Fonterra Whareroa Factory and turn right into Rifle Range Road.
Footnote.
Due to the Covid lockdown when it first started over a year ago and the decline of many of the volunteers and children moving on, there is a shortage of volunteers to assist in returning the neglected areas of the Rotary Garden and some parts of the walkway back into its former glory.
If anyone is able to assist and has some spare time to volunteer and could help to restore this beautiful and precious place, Doug Henderson, co ordinater Hawera would be pleased to hear from you. His phone number is 06 278 6054.
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