Te Oka – Devils Gap

Sunday 14 June 2025

Liaising with farmers proved easier for this trip, rather than the original scheduled Peraki Bay circuit. Five of us set off and parked on the Bossu Road near 685m Te Oka. Kerry chose to rest his calf strain and take the car to the Devils Gap end of the one-way walk. Four set off up and within twenty minutes reached the high-point for the grand view of ocean, the big lake Ellesmere (Waihora) and Lake Forsyth (Wairewa). Picking their way down the eastern side of Te Oka they reached the road near the Bossu Road-Te Oka Road junction. Tracks alongside Bossu Road allowed the four to minimise road walking, though they did walk down Gap Road to the farm track that leads to the spectacular gap. Soon, they reached the 735m high point for lunch, then back to the waiting car.

Driving down to Little River we passed two escapee cows on the road. By the time Kerry remembered to call the Te Oka farmer he’d already been told of his wandering stock and had apprehended them. This is an excellent walk with super views of Lake Forsyth/Wairewa and the southern bays. 

We were: Joy, Kathryn, Graham, Chris and Kerry (Leader).   KM