The spectacular Nile (Waitakere) River bridge is one of several on the Kawatiri Coastal Trail. Photo: Nomad Audio and Video

Westport wonder

Features, New Trail

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Kathy Ombler

A long-time Wilderness contributor and freelance author, Kathy writes about outdoor recreation, natural history and conservation.

By Kathy Ombler

The Westport community has thrown itself behind the new Kawatiri Coastal Trail, which is nearing completion and is already winning acclaim for its innovative design and diverse landscapes.

There are several entry points to Kawatiri Coastal Trail / Te Huarahi Takutai o Kawatiri (KCT), the most popular being at the Buller Bridge. More than 120,000 people have been recorded entering the trail here. So, what’s the appeal? Is it the diverse scenery, the sense of history, the wetlands, award-winning bridges, surf beaches, rivers […]

About the author

Kathy Ombler

Freelance author Kathy Ombler mostly writes about outdoor recreation, natural history and conservation, and has contributed to Wilderness for many years. She has also written and edited for other publications and websites, most recently Federated Mountain Club’s Backcountry, Forest & Bird, and the Backcountry Trust. Books she has authored include Where to Watch Birds in New Zealand, Walking Wellington and New Zealand National Parks and Other Wild Places. She is currently a trustee for Wellington’s Ōtari-Wilton’s Bush Trust.