Keen walker David Mallowes offers suggestions about fun and interesting routes people can take to get some exercise and enjoy the area in his new column.
Reaching out to Bucklands Beach from Glendowie is a sandspit and the Tahuna Torea reserve, a beautiful seabird sanctuary.
Tahuna Torea has an interesting coastal path, a well maintained, fairly mature shaded forest track, and a mudflat option to the sandspit.
We usually park opposite 347 West Tamaki Road, close to the popular wetland ponds, for a 3.5km loop.
At Roberta Avenue there’s a toilet, an excellent playground, two cafe restaurants and an Indian restaurant.
From Roberta Avenue you can continue your walk up through Churchill Park and even to St Heliers.
Back at the carpark you may head south-west along the coastline or mudflats to the bridge near Kotae Road and onward to Point England Reserve, even to the Panmure Basin if you like.
There’s an awesome mainly wooden playground at Fernwood Place, no toilets.
Dogs: Yes on the Point England path, not permitted in the bird sanctuary.
Strollers: The coastal paths are great, the bush walk has too many steps.
Restroom: At Roberta Avenue.
Playgrounds: Roberta Avenue, Fernwood Place, Pt England Reserve.
Cafes: Roberta Avenue.
For a printable map annotated with many waypoints, visit www.facebook.com/walksouteastauckland, or use the QR code to an online route map.
Checklist: Water bottle, sunscreen, sunhat, mobile phone, mini first-aid kit, map/directions print-out.
QR code: www.alltrails.com/explore/map/tahuna-torea-seabird-sanctuary-walk-06a81a4
