Te Henui Walkway Mountain Bike Trail

Distance: 5.9km (two hours circular).LocationTe Henui Walkway follows Te Henui River from East End Reserve to Cumberland Street in Merrilands. There are several access points along the walkway, see the Te Henui Walkway map for more detail.Facilities and Car parkingEast End Reserve has toilet facilities, a playground and during the summer months a café. Benches are available along the walkway.There is a car park at East End Reserve and on-street parking at many entrances to the Te Henui Walkway.Good for walking, dog walking, cycling and buggiesAttractionsTe Henui VicarageAt Courtenay Street you can take a short detour to the historic Te Henui Vicarage. Built in 1844 the vicarage is now home to local potters and open to the public on weekends from 1pm-4pm.Waiwaka ReserveWalk through the Waiwaka Reserve past extensive plantings of camellias, magnolias and deciduous trees. It's hard to believe that before 1961 this area was just an overgrown rubbish tipPukewarangi PaCross the footbridge over the stream and turn immediately right (with the stream now on your right). Back to your left is Pukewarangi Pa, a once fortified Maori village where earth works and trenches are still clearly visible.Avery ReserveThis is just before Frank Wilson Terrace.Parihamore PaContinue through Parihamore Pa, home to a famous Maori legend. In the 18th century, chief of the pa, Kahu-taia had a beautiful daughter named Uruki-naki. One of her many admirers was the chief Potaka who wanted to marry her. When Uruki-naki rejected Potaka because he was too old, he became angry and marched his men to Parihamore Pa, camping in the hollow between Parihamore and Puketarata (near Te Henui cemetery). Potaka and his men laid a siege forcing Uruki-naki to agree to marry him to save her village from starvation. Uruki-naki was anointed with sweet-scented oil made from berries of the pa's titoki tree and was went down to Potaka to be his wife.Te Henui CemeteryAs you enter Te Henui Cemetery you will see a kauri tree at the roundabout. There is a sign to the left of this kauri which shows the burial layout in their denominations. From this roundabout you make your way back onto the walkway. Te Henui Cemetery was established in 1861 and was New Plymouth's main cemetery and contains many graves of the early settlers.