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. It’s called Short & Sweet because that’s what it is. The full trail will be about 5km long and run over roads, driveways, paddocks and some short forest trails. It’s been designed to be easy walking with just a tiny amount of challenge to it. Best of all, it incorporates lots of private property which you normally can’t access, and the charm and views of any great Warkworth Walks trail.

The walking starts with a gentle uphill run, on a paper road, from Lawrie Rd to the back of the former Mahurangi River Winery. The new owners have been kind enough to let us access their property and we will stroll down their driveway enjoying the views over the valley that rolls down to Duck Creek. At the end of the driveway, we’ll pop out onto Hamilton Rd and walk to the junction with Duck Creek Rd.

We continue along Hamilton Road to the Mahurangi Farm-Forestry Trail running between Hamilton Road and Sandspit Road. The trail follows the middle reaches of Duck Creek and takes in sections of native bush and neighbouring farmland (with very friendly cows!).

At this point, you have the option to make it the Sweet & Very Short (3km) trail by retiring to Parsley Pot Cafe and waiting three-quarters of an hour for bus pickup. If anyone wants/needs to do this, we’ll have a guide to escort you and wait with you at the cafe. Remaining walkers will be crossing Sandspit Rd to Solway Farm so please proceed with caution because the road can be so busy. Follow your guide's instructions.

After crossing Sandspit Rd, the walk continues on a brand new section of trail that is not yet open to the public. This trail follows the Duck Creek river further upstream across the beautiful winding path that has been installed on Solway Farm. With new planting, native birds and more lovely surrounding farmland, we’re lucky to be able to beat the rest of the public to this section of walkway.

We’ll choose a nice part of the farm to stop for a lunch break and then carry on to Sharp Rd where the bus will await.

The full walk is approximately 5km and mainly on well-formed trails/roads. You will need good footwear and bring plenty of water. There is some walking on public roads that requires caution and attention to your guide. We look forward to showing you the normally inaccessible corners of this trail.