It is said that during the fighting in 1846, Te Rangihaeata
declared the track to be his backbone: it was used for the
transport of arms to Pauatahanui and Horokiwi.
The track continued to be used in post-contact times. Mail was
carried along it on foot until the coach road from Pauatahanui over
Paekakariki Hill was opened. Much of the early subdivision of land
relied on the track for frontage and access and parts of the track
are still rights of way.
"The Track"
Travelling from south to north, for the first part of its
length, Taua-Tapu is now a sealed road, called The Track. The
walkway from the top of this road proceeds along a driveway for 300
metres to a high point adjacent to the bush. Along this link there
are views to the west of Mana Island, Cook Strait, and on a clear
day, the top of the South Island. There are some excellent stands
of native bush in the vicinity, mainly in private ownership.
Further to the north is partly bush-covered public reserve. The
five minute detour to the heart of this reserve is a pleasant walk
with bush on either side.
From the top of the hill Taua-Tapu turns sharply to the
north-east through private land and follows down to a gate. The
track then leaves the driveway and runs along the eastern side of
the fence to a further gate where it transfers to the west side and
approaches the trig station. At this trig station there is a view
of the Taupo Swamp, the North Island Main Trunk Railway, State
Highway One, and the bush area surrounding the Whenua Tapu
Cemetery. The track then descends to a stile and crosses back to
the east side of the fence, then down to a gate and a further
stile. Crossing the stile into another public reserve, the track
zigzags to the west and down to Airlie Road (photo shows Airlie
Road entrance to Taua Tapu Track). Motor vehicles and motorbikes
are not permitted on the walkway. Dogs and horses are permitted,
but must be kept under control and dogs must be on a leash. Please
appreciate that the ridge section of the walkway passes through
private farmland. Walkers are asked to stay close to the fences,
follow the marker posts, use the stiles, and leave the gates
closed.
The cache a 300ml Xeonic container when placed contained the
following items
The Snake Travel Bug
Logbook
Pencil and Sharpner
Toys
A glass pebble
Please NOTE that if you must sign
the logbook for each individual cachers or proof of a photo for
group logs to be emailed to the owner otherwise you log may be
deleted. Please hide the cache exactly how you found it as we don't
really want it to get muggled