Community Contributed

Burtton's Track

Kete Horowhenua2020-03-23T16:49:52+00:00
On 26 February 2006 the Prime Minister, Helen Clark, opened Burtton’s Track. The track forms part of Te Araroa - the proposed continuous hiking route 2,924 kilometres from Cape Reinga to Bluff.
LocationScotts Road to Mangahao Road

On 26 February 2006 the Prime Minister, Helen Clark, opened Burtton’s Track. The track forms part of Te Araroa - the proposed continuous hiking route 2,924 kilometres from Cape Reinga to Bluff.

The following account was from www.lwtc,org.nz/BurttonsTrackopening.htm

Te Araroa Trail Opening 26 th February 2006

David Dittmer and I represented LWTC at the official opening of Burttons Track by PM Helen Clark and Conservation Minister Chris Carter. After unveiling a plaque at Gordon Kear Forest, Helen Clark led a party of 85 trampers through the track originally created by James Burtton. Lunch was the largest picnic I have ever encountered in the bush. At the southern end of the track 2 other memorials were unveiled. The walk takes about 5 hours including several river crossings. Four-wheel drive vehicles then took us to the Mangaore hall for refreshments.

David started the walk at the tail of the long crocodile and managed to get involved with an elderly man who was in trouble very early on the way. He arrived rather late at the hall having come via a helicopter ride to Palmerston North hospital, then driven back to Shannon. His SAR skills to the fore again.

The Te Araroa website has many stories of the walkway - see the web links below - and one has this wonderful photo (shown on the left) of Levin from the walkway (complete with cow, Lake Horowhenua and the Tasman Sea).

A coloured brochure including map and description of track, available from Te Araroa, is attached as a PDF document below.