York Road @ Top Tracks.info

Where is it? From New Plymouth, drive around 27 kilometres towards Stratford. York Road is on the right, about 600 metres before the Midhirst overbridge. Cross the railway line and continue without turning for seven and a half kilometres to a parking area. The last kilometre of the road is unsealed. Assuming you have the pamphlet to guide you, and to make the most of this track, walk this track in a clockwise direction. Go left at the first intersection after only 100m. To find marker post 1, you will see the track veer to the right, which is where you go later, but first continue straight ahead another 10m on the boardwalk, then turn left on the muddy track through the trees. You will come to a clearing after 50m. When you return to the boardwalk go left and you will see post 2 on the right. The rest of this boardwalk allows you to see the crusher foundations. A diagram on the PDF explains this more clearly. Return to where the track climbs to the top of the crusher and continue on the well cleared and easy track. The bridge over the river has been built on the original piles for the railway, so look closely and see if you can see other evidence of the railway bridge. You will come to a clearing where the line branched, you need to go up to the right. At a marker the track goes left to follow the pipeline. You are able to go straight up, and rejoin the track but this is probably best as an emergency exit if needed, or if you are short of time. About 10m straight up is a pond on the left, probably the result of where gravel was dug for the railway bed.
Anyway, the sign points left, that’s where you need to go, and soon you will come to marker post 3 and the sand trap. Marker post 5 is the place for a detour to the river that will take one minute and is recommended. Pieces of railway iron and sleepers can be seen in the river. It will take six minutes to walk to the river at the upper quarry track turn off, the track isn't as good, you see less, and the river bank is high, and potentially dangerous. This would be a pointless detour for school groups. Also down there is a second marker post 6, which means the other one, is probably supposed to be marker post 7? At marker post 6 or is it 7 (?) you can see a concrete culvert in the stream and various other devices used to clear the water from presumably undermining the railway line. A boardwalk begins here through to the new bridge and marker post 8 at the top of the service road. This continues more of less straight back the car park. The clearing at marker post 8 is an ideal place for a picnic.
Features It is not difficult to imagine when walking this track an old steam engine and wagons coming through the bush. Even on a dry day, there is an amazing amount of water around, so conditions for the workers cannot have been that pleasant, ie, it’s not always fine! While the purpose of walking this track will likely be historical, or technology, it is an interesting and simple walk, easily accessed. Walking this track for pleasure, health or fitness are perfectly legitimate objectives. You could find worse places! Accessibility Because the track follows former railway lines, (and a road) the grades are very kind. The surface is very good, but not good enough for strollers. There is plenty of water but boots are probably not necessary. Whether junior children would find the historical nature of this walk interesting would depend on the nature of the children’s pre visit work. Dangers There are no barriers to keep people from going into the river, and the banks can be high depending on how the last flood has affected this part of the river. The banks could also be undercut in these places so care will be needed. The second river access point is potentially dangerous. A picturesque part of the track follows a stream and crosses several times. The rocks are slippery so care will be needed. The track at the crusher site runs along the top of the concrete structure. It’s a long way down. There is a barrier protecting part of this.
Additional Notes There is a useful pamphlet on this walk that the local visitor centres should have. This pamphlet will make the walk more interesting as it suggests things to look out for and explains some of the features you will see. To fully appreciate the crusher and how it worked, see Nigel Ogle’s diorama in the North Egmont Visitor Centre. The Department of Conservation web site has some information in a PDF file called Egmont National Park. There are also pupil activities at the end of this, see below. York Road (pp 16-19, activities 34,35,36,37,38,39,40,41,42,43) http://www.doc.govt.nz/getting-involved/for-teachers/field-trip-resources/ field-trips-by-region/wanganui/egmont-national-park/teaching-resource/ This information was gathered while on site in 2004.

Where is it?

From New Plymouth, drive around 27 kilometres towards Stratford. York Road is on the right, about 600 metres before the Midhirst overbridge. Cross the railway line and continue without turning for seven and a half kilometres to a parking area. The last kilometre of the road is unsealed.

Assuming you have the pamphlet to guide you, and to make the most of this track, walk this track in a clockwise direction. Go left at the first intersection after only 100m. To find marker post 1, you will see the track veer to the right, which is where you go later, but first continue straight ahead another 10m on the boardwalk, then turn left on the muddy track through the trees. You will come to a clearing after 50m.

When you return to the boardwalk go left and you will see post 2 on the right. The rest of this boardwalk allows you to see the crusher foundations. A diagram on the PDF explains this more clearly.

Return to where the track climbs to the top of the crusher and continue on the well cleared and easy track. The bridge over the river has been built on the original piles for the railway, so look closely and see if you can see other evidence of the railway bridge. You will come to a clearing where the line branched, you need to go up to the right. At a marker the track goes left to follow the pipeline. You are able to go straight up, and rejoin the track but this is probably best as an emergency exit if needed, or if you are short of time. About 10m straight up is a pond on the left, probably the result of where gravel was dug for the railway bed.


York Road
DoC recommended times and track type:
3 hours
day walk
This loop track is in the National Park close to Midhirst. Much of the track follows the railway lines that were used to transport rock to crushers from the riverbeds higher up the mountain. Some structures remain. The Department of Conservation has a pamphlet on this track that outlines features at various numbered posts along the way.