Ti Point Walk

I pulled into the parking lot at the end of Ti Point Road. There, right next to each other, were a wharf and some toilets. The car park can get quite full, it was on the day I arrived. There were kids fishing off the little wharf.

I set off on the walk, a mix of gravel track and boardwalk along the shoreline. Big old pohutukawa trees and massive boulders lined the track, and I couldn’t help but look out towards Omaha Beach and the entrance to Whangateau Harbour. I could see all the Omaha mansions, quite interesting.

A sign reminded me to keep dogs on a leash – apparently little blue penguins liked to nestle along this coastline!

The path narrowed as I continued along the coast. Sometimes it was paved with shells, and every now and then I’d spot middens along the way. The native bush was beautiful – puriri, flax, blechnum, and nikau surrounded me. 

I had to watch out for tree roots that ran across the path, but strategically placed stiles helped me navigate the fence lines. Every so often, I’d be rewarded with a glimpse of a secluded little sandy cove.

Finally, I came to a wide open grassy area – the Ti Point Scenic Reserve itself. I followed the fence line up a short steep hill, and the view was worth the climb. Leigh Harbour and Little Barrier Island stretched out before me, and I could see a rocky outcrop in the distance – a dramatic basalt formation that looked like a popular spot for rock climbers.