New Zealand Walk
Hatea Loop Walkway links town
T
he Hatea Loop is a 4.2km fully accessible multi use, inner harbour walkway that circles the Hatea River in Whangarei. The walkway links the Town Basin with Te Matau a Pohe and William Fraser Memorial Park on Pohe Island - from which a variety of activities can be enjoyed. The entire loop is accessible for walking, jogging, pushbikes, all sorts of mobility aids and scooters and is also suitable for push-chairs. The Hatea Loop that weaves past shops, through markets, beside yachts, parks and industrial areas, across the new cycle and footbridge over the Waiarohia Stream, is part of a grand vision of an area that all people can enjoy however they want to. Kotuitui Whitinga - the bridge across the Waiarohia Stream ties the visual elements of the sail-like canopy and the rib-like wind-break on the Canopy Bridge at the Town Basin end of the loop walkway with the two dramatic hooks of Te Matau a Pohe at the other end. Along the walkway people can enjoy an open-air market in summer, cafes, galleries and shops or the Te Kakano, (The Seed) an architectural sculpture in the shape of a koru using all the elements of Hundertwasser’s style. It is a beautiful and intriguing structure that gave the builders and artists the opportunity to adapt their skills for the now opened Hundertwasser Art Centre with Wairau Maori Art Gallery. The HAC is 100 times the size of Te Kākano. Along the walkway is the Whangarei Art Museum, home to the city’s art collection that embraces both heritage and contemporary works, and offers a captivating insight into the District’s history as is Reyburn House, home Above: The Kotuitui Whitinga walking bridge joins to Hihiaua Park. Below lef t: An outdoor fitness centre along the loop. Below right: A colour ful bed of f l o w e r s b e s i d e t h e c a f e s . Below far right: The Hundertwasser Art Centre from Dent Street.
30 Walking New Zealand, issue no 291
- 2022
www.walkingnewzealand.co.nz
