Where? Only 5 minutes from Hastings and 15 minutes from Napier on the Pakowhai Road, on the Hastings side of the Ngaruroro River.
Facilities – Paved parking with access over a stopbank via steps (difficult for prams and not suitable for wheelchairs as pathways are unpaved), picnic tables. Dog exercising. No overnight camping permitted.
Pakowhai Country Park is an attractive open space, with casual paths that crisscross the Raupere Stream over bridges built by Regional Council staff as a team building exercise. It’s a country park with plenty of variety including a newly developed wetland area, the stream, native trees many of which have been planted by volunteer community groups and schools, a small forestry block and open spaces with views across orchards and farmland.
It is a popular dog exercise park, where dogs are permitted to be off leash but must be under the control of their owners (who must also remove waste).
The park was developed in the former bed of the Ngaruroro River which was diverted 500 m north in a large flood protection project completed in 1969. The Raupere Stream now flows under the old river bridge near the entrance to the park. The park was created by The Landcare Foundation in the 1970s, with support from a group known as Friends of Pakowhai Country Park who still get involved in planting and other projects.
A walk through the park from the stopbank entrance serves as a memorial to Mr Doug Walker, who was Chairman of the Council 1992-1996 and lead the development of much of the flood protection work on the Heretaunga Plains.