A Walk in Peka Peka Regional Park (wetlands)

Take a quiet walk with us around the Peka Peka wetlands - also known as the Peka Peka Regional Park. There was nobody else there when this was filmed and to preserve the sense of serenity there is no commentary but there is ambient sound and some peaceful background music.

Peka Peka Wetlands is a wetland reserve located 12 kilometres by road south of Hastings in the Poukawa Basin of Hawke's Bay, New Zealand. This 4.5km long and 800m wide wetland covers 98 hectares. A community biodiversity enhancement programme continues, managed by the Regional Council, and includes planting by school children, duck shooters and many volunteers.

Public access is to a central area of the wetland where you can explore pathways and boardwalks, and walk up to the lookout for a panoramic view of the valley. It's an ideal park to explore with the family. The Hawke's Bay Regional Council began restoring the wetland in the late 1990s with the removal of willows and the construction of a perimeter fence.

The Council initially owned about half of the wetland, but this has been increased to 90%. It is rated as the second most ecologically valuable wetland in Hawke's Bay. The Poukawa Stream, which drains Lake Poukawa in the south-west, runs through the Pekapeka Wetland.

The wetlands are not part of our scheduled tours, but can be included in the itinerary of our private tours on request.