This is a brand new walk for all those people who have e-mailed us over the last few years to say we need a Level 1 or 2 trail. The full trail is only about 5km long and run over roads, farm races, paddocks and boardwalk. It’s been designed to be easy walking with just a modest amount of challenge to it. Best of all, it incorporates private property which you normally can’t access, and the charm and views of any great Warkworth Walks trail.

Welcome to Short & Starry, a brand new trail that offers the incredible opportunity for a guided tour of the Warkworth Satellite Station and a stroll across the surrounding private farm land. The Satellite Station is off limits to the public these days, but we have been lucky enough to secure permission to visit and look around with facilities with resident experts. If you’ve ever driven past and looked at the giant dishes pointing skyward and wondered what goes on ‘up there’ – in all senses of the phrase – then this is your one-off opportunity to find out.

We’ll split into groups for a one-hour tour and then have a little snack and bathroom stop before heading out onto the beautiful surrounding hills that are farmed by a kind host. Heading north, we’ll use the farm races to pass by the friendly cows and towering trees. We’ll then climb a decent hill to high ground that gives gorgeous views back over the Satellite Station and out to the distant west. The hill is reasonably steep and the paddocks can be quite pugged by the cattle so it will be very slow and steady to make sure everyone is safe and enjoying themselves. There is absolutely no rush.

At the crest of the hill there’s a glimpse of Kawau and the ocean, and a glorious section of native forest. We’ll make the most of this attractive spot to have a lunch stop and gather our thoughts. Then it’s on a short distance further through more scattered native bush with its residents tui to where the farm exits onto Thompson Road.

We’ll follow Thompson Road to where it meets Tudor Collins Drive where you can decide whether to continue our gentle downhill walk to town (5km total) or to walk down to the museum reserve (3km total). You can choose to rest up and wait there, or do the boardwalk through Parry Kauri Park before we come back and collect you for your return to town.

You’ll need boots, preferably, or good quality walking shoes, and walking poles would be very useful for the paddocks. There is potential for some muddy sections if the weather has been wet.

This is a unique opportunity to tour the Satellite Station, an iconic Warkworth landmark, and enjoy a special trail out through the surrounding private farmland, back to town. I’m so excited to lead it and I hope you’ll all share the thrill with me on Friday 20 November.

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