Mix of mountainbiking and golden sands
Thursday, 18 May 2017
Many years ago, a group of Maori were eating a meal on an island near Kaiteriteri beach when they were alarmed by crashing sounds in nearby bush.
Fearing attack, they ran to their canoes, sensibly taking the food with them. Upon reaching the shore they raced to their pa, eating their meal as they went.
This story gives an insight into how of one of our favourite spots in the top of the south got is name; kai means to eat and teretere means to run or spread about.
Apart from mysterious loud noises, what else do we know about Kaiterteri? Number one must be its golden sand, which is easily the best in the South Island. The sand gets its colour from quartz and mica particles eroded from the nearby hills. It is perfectly off-set by clear blue-green water.
Combine this attractive environment with warm summer temperatures and you have a great place for outdoor activities. The adjacent Abel Tasman National Park lures around 230,000 visitors each year, many international. I want to make sure that locals know what we have on our back doorstep.
Kaiteriteri Mountainbike Park is a good reason to visit. The 180-hectare Park is a collaboration between the Department of Conservation, Kaiteriteri Recreation Reserve Board and local mountain bike enthusiasts.
Together they have created a wildly popular recreational off-road biking venue on public land, catering for all levels of rider. Access is easy, with entry less than 1km from Kaiteriteri beach. Last year, a whopping 23,000 riders were counted using the park. That's one-tenth of the number of visitors to the National Park.
Still on the cycling theme, the Great Taste Trail goes all the way from Nelson to Kaiteriteri. This means that if you don't feel like driving, you can ride 59km on easy Grade 1 or 2 track all the way from central Nelson (and less for Richmond residents).
After a big bike ride, you might want to stay the night. Kaiterititeri camp-ground has been providing welcome shelter since the 1920s, and is part of 260 hectares of public reserve land. There are many family traditions practised here.
For some it is being able to camp at the same spot year after year. For others, it is the Miss Kaiteriteri beauty contest, which has been held annually for more than half a century. Some people love this place so much they leave their caravans there for the following year.
The campground has been 'tarted up' in recent years with a new shop, office, apartments, traffic calming devices and landscaping. This work has been controversial but I am happy with the result, particularly attempts to slow traffic on the beachfront front.
David Ross, the CEO of the Kaiteriteri Recreation Reserve Board says bookings for the 435 campsites are already high for next summer. Demand always outstrips supply. Forward bookings for the apartments are also high.
Ross and his team have more improvements planned for us. A cycling hub near the beach will have maintenance and wash-down facilities, shade, bike racks and even a plug-in for electric bikes. There are also plans to refurbish the restaurant, as well as providing more parking and landscaping.
Vogel's (who make bread) recently carried out the Big Little Kiwi Census to find out what we like best. Kaiteriteri was voted the second favourite beach nationally, behind Mount Maunganui.
May is the perfect time to visit – the weather is still warm, the tide-filled estuary, turquoise sea and native bush are still there. Best of all, you don't have to share this magic space with so many others or fight for towel space on the sand or share your bench seat.
By visiting in the shoulder season, you'll be spreading visitor numbers, and be the first to see the enhancements that the Recreation Reserve Board is planning.
elizabeth@greenway.co.nz