Highlights The Big Redwoods:

This grove of 223 California redwoods was planted in 1927, with trees now more than 40m tall. The easiest way to access the forest is via the 2.7km Big Redwoods Track, which starts from the Main Gates car park.

The summit: This steep, single-lane road is not for the faint-hearted. But the brave are well-rewarded; the views from the top are exceptional. Follow Te Mata Road to the top.

Mountain biking: There is a range of trails in Te Mata Park, ranging from grade 2 to grade 6 (extreme). The biking trails keep cyclists well away from walkers. The tracks were upgraded in 2017 and include one of New Zealand’s original mountain biking tracks — the Te Ihu Trail, developed in the 1980s. A map is available at tematapark.co.nz