Matekai Park was established in 1980 with subsequent land being purchased to create a 6.5 hectare area that is a popular link between Oakura’s shopping village and the beach.
The Park provides opportunities for walking in bush-like settings, and with its large wetland area and natural open spaces, gives good views of birds and other wildlife. A perimeter track is supplemented by three grass paths with rustic bridges that cross the wetland between the upper and lower tracks.
A number of clearings and seats have been established to make the most of the views and landscape.
Matekai Park boasts a wide range of tree species, including puriri, karaka, titoki, pukatea, rewarewa, kahikatea, rimu, cabbage tree, mapou, lemonwood and kowhai. The wetland has been identified as an area of national importance by the Department of Conservation and consists of raupo, flax and carex, creating a habitat for a number of rare bird species.
Over recent decades Matekai Park has been the focus of an ongoing planting programme, which has centred on re-establishing native and introduced trees, which now attract bird life to the reserve.
The Matekai Park loop track can be used to walk dogs without a lead and at the upper end of the reserve is a large area of open space used for horse riding activities, with a large parking area.
At GZ take a weight off shanks pony and listen to the birds for awhile