Taranaki's Best Walking Tracks

The Carrington Walkway is a looped urban bush walk encompassing native bush into which European and American species have been introduced. Along the walkway discover some impressive views of Mt Taranaki which rises 2,518 metres (8,260 feet) and dominates the western.

Start at the Malone Gates located on the corner of Fenton and Portia streets. These white marble gates were erected in 1923 as a tribute to Lieutenant Colonel William George Malone, who was killed after successfully leading the Wellington Battalion in an attack on the Turks at Chunuk Bair on 8 August 1915. Follow the signage from here.

This section provides a choice of routes, which adds interest for those doing the round trip or subsequent walks. Stratford’s climate and soil provides ideal conditions for growing. Visit the McCullough Rhododendron Dell in spring. Formed in the 1960s, these gardens contain several hundred rhododendrons and include some propagated from seed sent from the Royal Botanical Gardens in Edinburgh, Scotland as well as some from Lord Rothchild’s gardens in England.

The landscaped garden

Tūpare is a premier landscaped garden with a unique homestead, originally developed by Sir Russell Matthews and his family from 1932.

Sculpted from a hillside overlooking the Waiwhakaiho River, the plantings and landscapes remain true to its heritage. As you walk the winding paths cut into the hillside, you’ll find stately trees, deciduous maples, copper beeches and dawn redwoods, as well as a stunning collection of rhododendrons, azaleas, and hydrangeas that were all carefully planted by Sir Russell.

The river flat

The river flat retains an idyllic pastoral feeling with simple plantings of specimen trees, complemented by the movement of the wind and water.

Here you will find free gas barbecues and picnic areas, popular with summer visitors who can also enjoy a swim in the Waiwhakaiho River.

The Chapman-Taylor house

Tūpare’s distinctive Chapman-Taylor designed house is a great example of the Arts & Crafts style of architecture.

The Friends of Tūpare host free public tours at 11am on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays from October to March. Group tours at other times can be organised on request.

The Riverside School

The Riverside School is a study unit developed by the Taranaki Regional Council outlining the activities available for teachers and classes visiting Tūpare.

The nine activity options include walks, studies focusing on trees and birdlife, and a stream study.

The Waitara valley has a rich and sheltered history, with the countryside scattered with evidence of fortifications reflecting a period of human occupation over many hundreds of years.

With European settlement in North Taranaki occurring from 1841, conflict began to arise over the colonists attempt to gain land for cultivation. This culminated in the first Taranaki War in 1860/61. The town (then known as Raleigh) came into being, with borough status achieved in 1904 when the name reverted to Waitara.