Barefoot Tracks of Whangarei: Ōtaika Valley Walkway

10 minutes drive south of the city is a delightful valley with some of the best barefoot forest walking I’ve found so far in Whangarei. This is a very steep track, hiking up whimsical mossy staircases, and along narrow ridges of the mountain. This a 2 hour in one direction track (4 hours return). We did the first hour. There were stones at the start, and about 1/2 an hour into the track, with a big DOC staircase. Hopefully the rest of the track will stay natural! Department of Conservation info: