A neighbourhood walk with Momo 沫沫 the Labrador

I live in the north east of Hamilton, New Zealand in the Huntington/Rototuna area. Rototuna makes Eel Lakes in the indigenous Maori language. There are plenty of green spaces for recreational and ecological purposes. Momo 沫沫 just loves to go for walks, even if it's just locally.

Te ToeToe Reserve

Rest stop on my morning walk with the dog. On the left we can see the hospital complex in front of Mt. Kakepuku, Mt. Pirongia is to the right of that. Looking over the surburb of Huntington / Rototuna with Gordonton Rd behind us (not seen).

Saint James Drive

There an entrance to the Mangaiti gully system around here someplace. This is probably part of the gully system, but there's no pedestrian access here.

Recreation Reserve

Here's the pedestrian entrance next to 56 St. James Drive. This leads to a bridge that crosses over Kirikiriroa stream in the Mangaiti gully system and leads onto Coleraine drive. This route is the quickest walking and cycling access from St. James to Rototuna Primary School.

Mangaiti Reserve

Down in the gully system is the usual wet land plants. There are many volunteer projects to restore these gullies with pest control, planting and track maintenance. These gullies provide storm water management, important suburban ecosystems and green corridors for migratory birds. The tracks here are a mix of walking and maintenance tracks, so one should have shoes that can handle the damp. in places there are swampy plank walks that aren't suitable for prams (baby carriages).

Sexton Road

Here's the exit I took back towards Tomas Road. The climb out of the gully is medium steepness. This comes out at the end of Sexton Rd down near where there used to be a garden centre. Up on the glats,, this area is nearly built out in suburban housing. That makes natural reserves like Mangaiti even more important.

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