Years of hard graft and more than 360 working bees will finally pay off this weekend with the opening of a walkway linking some of Northland's most historic and scenic locations.
Completion of the 8.2km off-road track from Okiato (where the Opua ferry berths) to Russell by the volunteers of the Bay of Islands Walkways Trust means it is now possible to walk an 18km, five-hour loop around the inner Bay of Islands.
Walkers starting in Paihia, for example, can follow the existing Paihia-Opua Coastal Walkway, catch the car ferry to Okiato, hike the Okiato-Russell track, and finally catch a passenger ferry back to Paihia.
Bay of Islands Walkways Trust secretary Margaret Pasco said it was a relief the work was finally over and the walking could finally begin.
"Now we can enjoy the walk. Doing the full circle gives you a real variety - there's old bush, regenerating bush, beaches, mangroves and boardwalks."