The Mt Cass Walkway offers panoramic views over the vineyards and limestone formations of the Waipara – Omihi Valley, the peaks and bush filled gullies of the Mt Cass Range and the coastline of Pegasus Bay and the Pacific Ocean from Motunau Island to Banks Peninsula. The walkway is a loop track that starts at a car park on Mt Cass Road, passes by an old lime quarry before climbing to a lookout below the summit of Mt Cass. It takes about 1 hour 30 minutes to climb to the summit, and just over one hour walking back down to the car park. With great views and a picnic spot it’s easy for you to spend 3 hours enjoying the Mt Cass Walkway.
Construction
The Waipara Valley Promotion Association and Transwaste (who are funding the restoration of Tiromoana Bush and maintenance of the Tiromoana Bush walkways) cooperatively developed the Mt Cass Walkway. Local people volunteered labour and donated materials to construct the walkway that opened to the public on 10 April 2006.
Take a track that leads to a lookout
The Walkway passes through privately owned farmland with sheep and cattle. The Walkway is closed at the height of the lambing and calving seasons, from 1 August to 30 October approximately. It is also subject to sudden closures in the height of Summer due to High Fire Risk.
These are generally the opening hours:
- Spring-Summer, 1 November to 31 March, 8am to 6pm
- Autumn-Winter, 1 April to 31 July, 8am to 4pm
Climb to a peak
There’s information and brochures with maps available at the car park on Mt Cass Road. Cell phone coverage is limited in the area, so it’s recommended that visitors take a brochure with them along the track. If you don’t want to keep the brochure, you can leave it in the holder at the car park when you’ve finished your visit. A downloadable brochure with a detailed map of the track, lookout, picnic spot and toilet is here.
Walk through native bush to an unspoiled beach
The Tiromoana Bush Walkway is a great way to experience being in a regenerating native forest complete with ponds, wetlands, and native birds as your companions.