Barry Hadfield Nikau Reserve
Walk the track through the Barry Hadfield Nikau Reserve, which covers 11 hectares of regionally significant Kohekohe/Nikau forest remnant.
Access: From the north, turn off SH1 at the Lindale turnoff (north of Paraparaumu) and the reserve is on your left with a car park before the road swings round underneath SH1.
From the south, take the Lindale turnoff north of Paraparaumu, but follow the sign at the roundabout to Nikau Valley, then take the first left which is a short road which turns into the Nikau Reserve carpark.
Distance/time: 30 minutes return on the easy loop, with a steep 20 minute climb to the lookout at the top of the ridge.
From the car park the track climbs 120 metres past pillars of Nikau Palms== from the carpark at the bottom to a picnic area at the top. Once there, a panoramic vista takes in the coastal plains, townships, Kapiti Island and the coast north where Mt Taranaki is visible on clear days.
Highlights: It's home to a number of native birds including fantail, grey warbler, tui, bellbird and kereru. The reserve is an important link in a chain of forest remnants between the Tararua Ranges and Kapiti Island.
Amenities
- Walking track