The track runs for 10km along the ridge above the Manawatu River.
I did this walk with my mate Neil. We parked cars at either
end of the track allowing us to do a one-way walk, in this instance starting at
the Ashurst end. The reason for this direction was that there is a terrific café
(Bridge Café) at the other end and it is always nice to have some kind of goal or
reward on these kinds of walks.
The track initially follows the road that runs through the
gorge but quickly ducks underneath it and then climbs up steadily up onto the
ridge which it then meanders along before dropping back down at the Woodville end.
I had somehow imagined that the track would emerge out onto
the tops, but it stayed stubbornly in the bush, although there plenty of
viewing points. To be honest, staying in the trees was a good thing as it searingly
hot and both Neil and I had run out of water well before the end of the walk.
Four and a bit hours after we started we reached the café and
ginger beer and cheesecake heaven.
The start of the walk
The track goes under the road
Starting to climb up
Looking out over the gorge
Interesting Maori sculpture
Looking North
About half way
We saw lots of these
Dropping down
At the end
Neil dreaming of iced coffee and cheesecake
