By Roger Childs

One of the country’s urban delights

Ideal for walking, running, cycling, e-scootering, or skating, the 12.7-km sea-edge walkway boasts dramatic views, is great for all ages and abilities, and has numerous access points dotted along the way.

In 2008 internationally acclaimed photojournalist Trent Keegan was murdered by thugs in Nairobi, Kenya. He is one of many famous Taranaki identities remembered along the amazingly versatile and varied Coastal Walkway. There is a large wooden seat with Trent’s name on it and it looks out across a sea which can range from millpond-calm to ferociously stormy.

Another prominent citizen was Len Lye and one of his famous wind-wands towers in the air close to the Puke Ariki Museum. The Walkway was the brainchild of an earlier Mayor and runs 13.2 km (8.2 miles) from Port Taranaki in Moturoa to Bell Block north of the city.

Along the way you can access beachside cafés, the Aquatic Centre, the Museum, Library, Centre City shops and eating places, the East End Surf Club, the Fitzroy Golf Course and the beautiful Rewa Rewa Bridge.

Experiencing the wonderful coastal path

Pam and I recently stayed in the Belt Road Motor Camp which overlooks the start of the Walkway near the Lee Breakwater at the Port. There is a climb at the beginning which takes you up to near the entrance of the Motor Camp. From there it flattens out to go past the public swimming baths, however, if you wish, you can run a few hundred metres inland from the pool on bush tracks before you come to a slope in the Walkway which takes you down to the large Wind Wand area. There’s a children’s play area nearby.

At this section you cross the railway line which leads to the port, and you are requested to LOOK FOR TRAINS. There is only about one per day each way! Trent’s seat is on the seafront near the crossing and as I ran towards East End, I took a break and viewed the ships in the roadstead waiting to access the wharves.

The Wind Wand is a little further on, and near this “sculpture” you can head inland to the Puke Ariki Museum and the excellent Library and the downtown New Plymouth shops. This is probably the busiest part of the Coastal Walkway which always seems to have plenty of folk walking, running, riding, pushing strollers, or trying to keep up with the dog.

Continuing north you pass more seats and sculptures. One in an elevated position, features four headless, naked women with Rubenesque proportions, on a seat looking out to sea.

All along the Walkway there are massive piles of rocks close to the edge of the wide path and these help to dissipate the waves, especially in the massive storms which make parts of the Walkway unsafe. This is especially true in the next section which is hard up against the cliff.  This part is sometimes closed off when the surf pours over the rocks.

East End and beyond

If it’s open, which is the usual situation, it leads to a point and round the other side you come to East End where there is access to the Te Henui Walkway heading inland, a swimming beach between the rocky shoreline and a Surf Club. It’s here that the New Plymouth 5-km Parkrun starts and finishes. The courses follows the Walkway through the Fitzroy Motor Camp and past the golf course and on to the magnificent Te Rewa Rewa Bridge which is shaped like a wave and a whale skeleton. It’s a popular spot for wedding parties to have their photo shoot, and on a good day the bridge and Mount Taranaki can feature in the background.

The Walkway now enters a rural section through dunes and seashore vegetation, and there is another golf course nearby. The end comes a few kilometres on at the rapidly growing northern suburb of Bell Block.

I just ran to East End on the Wednesday we were there, but I have done the popular, picturesque Parkrun a few times. On the way back I was getting a bit tired so near the Wind wand I decided to take a break and a seat.