Banks Peninsula Track

An unusual and surprising three day amble through farmland around Akaroa Harbour. Most New Zealand tramping (hiking) tracks are on conservation land and entirely self catered. Here at Akaroa, four farming families got together to open up their unique corner of New Zealand to tourist for a (reasonable) fee, offering accommodation in huts of a standard and optional pack transport. Sheep farms, patches of native bush, mysterious bays, quaint accommodation and fascinating wildlife make this a tramp with a difference.

While Akaroa Harbour has been a tourist destination since settlement, this venture began in the 1980s when this sort of tramping was unheard of, but has gained a reputation for excellent scenery and experience. The four farming families (now three since one retired in 2017) describe their location as the ‘wild side’ of the peninsula as there is plenty of native bush in the mix in various states of regeneration, including impressive Hinewai Reserve.

After being picked up from Akaroa, trampers spend their first night at Onuku Hut, then Day One’s tramp is to Flea Bay, with or without packs, where in the summer there is a penguin tour available. Penguin spotting again features in the morning, when trampers can choose to kayak at Pohutu Marine Reservebefore setting off on a short walk to Stony Bay, the only hut without electricity.

Day three is the real treat for nature lovers, the day’s walk back to Akaroa traversing through Hinewai Reserve, a spectacular enterprise in regeneration of native bush. Conservationist Hugh Wilson and volunteer helpers are responsible for the continuing work of returning this gorse covered valley to it’s native origins. In partnership with green minded businessman Maurice White, Wilson acquired most of the farms in the Otanerito Valley in the 1980s, with the goal of returning a gorse ridden valley with a smattering of patches of native bush into a native wonderland of renewal. Wilson’s starting point is that the entire peninsula was completely bush until human habitation and ought to be returned to it’s undamaged state.

The lodge and visitor centre here are the centre of operations and also operate as a home with gardens for live in volunteers.

Hinewai’s success is documented in his own book “Hinewai, The Journal of a New Zealand Naturalist.”

With Private Tracks and catered tracks making an appearance on the New Zealand Hiking Scene, this one has already established a perfect niche in the Akaroa landscape and economy. Certainly something to book early for as there are allowed a maximum of 16 walkers on the track each day.

Photos by Christine Whiteford.