Te Ahu Turanga Highway, 13km Woodville to Ashhurst walkway, Saturday 5 July 2025
Banner Photo: The Manawatu River, the new highway and bridge sculpture
The underside of the bridge crossing the Manawatu River
We broke new ground on 5 July, and discovered an amazing walk with features that most passing motorists miss. It runs alongside the recently completed $824 million highway between Ashhurst and Woodville.
Eight members met at a dark and wet Park Island and travelled in two vehicles to Woodville. After a strategy meeting at the loos, it was decided that the slower group of Mary, Christine, Selina and Alison would leave from the Woodville end. Juliet’s car was left in Woodville and she along with the other members of the fast group (Julian, Shona and Campbell) drove Alison’s car over to the Ashhurst end.
Only an 8.5% slope
Looking towards Woodville
The new walkway/cycleway leads out of Woodville to an impressive new roundabout then onwards beside, but separate from, the new highway. The slow four must have looked a sight, all decked out in wet weather gear (it was raining), trudging up the 8.5% incline; we had quite a few ’toots’ from passing traffic. The heavy drizzle stopped after about 40 minutes and the walking became very pleasant.
Meanwhile on the Ashhurst side, the fast group walked from a huge car park, crossed the new bridge over a swollen Manawatu River and slogged up a 10% gradient into a cold headwind. Both groups met at the car park/lookout almost at the halfway point and, after a photo-shoot, parted with plans to meet at a cafe in Woodville.
With the wind at our backs, we headed down, stopping to take in the view over Ashhurst and the wider Manawatu – even as far as Kapiti Island. But Juliet’s group had the wind in their faces and were still not back at her car when we drove past. So the slow group really did have the best deal of the day!
We met up at the halfway car park
Woodville was pumping and the cafes were all full so we drove on to Dannevirke, where we met up for lunch and a debrief. The walk had only taken three hours but could take longer if you stopped at all the lookouts and rest areas.
What a superb pathway: sculptures, lookouts, windmills, signage panels, views, rest areas, and the highlight – the beautiful bridge over the river. We all enjoyed the walkway and would do it again. It’s really worth checking out.
Trampers: Juliet Gillick, Campbell Living, Shona Tupe, Mary Campbell, Selina Chilton, Christine Briasco, Julian Phillips and reporter Alison Greer
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