Wairarapa Family walks and day visits Wellington region Contents What to do in the Wairarapa 2 Track classifications 4 Abbreviations 5 Plan and prepare 5 Walking opportunities by area 7 Tararua Forest Park 7 Rimutaka Forest Park 18 Aorangi Forest Park 24 Wairarapa Moana 38 Wairarapa tangata whenua 42 Activities 50 Hunting 50 Fishing 51 Mountain biking and cycling 52 Horse riding 54 Four-wheel driving 55 Bird watching and other interesting fauna 56 Botany 58 Accommodation 62 Lodges 62 Camping 64 Campsite categories 64 Conservation campsites in the Wairarapa 65 Huts 67 Hut categories 67 Backcountry hut user charges 67 Conservation Huts in the Wairarapa 68 Shelters 71 Cover image: Castlepoint lighthouse. Photo Joe Hansen 1 The Wairarapa coastline extends for 220 kilometres and What to do in the Wairarapa is an area of high interest to iwi. It is also an important The Wairarapa area provides a wide range of recreation commercial fishery. opportunities and plant and animal habitats to visit. Wairarapa Moana contains wetlands that are regionally The area covers five ecological districts ranging from the and nationally important as a wader bird habitat, for sport Tararua and Rimutaka ranges to the Wairarapa plains, and game shooting and are also traditional areas for food to the hill country in the east and north of the area. Features gathering by Māori. of the area include the Tararua, Rimutaka and Aorangi forest The eastern and northern area of the Wairarapa has few parks, which are popular with trampers and other forest park legally protected areas, and remaining forest and wetland users. The Pukaha Mount Bruce National Wildlife Centre habitats contain several endangered native plant species. supports the conservation of nationally endangered species The rare short-tailed bat is found in one location in the through captive management. Tararua Forest Park. 2 Tararua ranges. Photo Joe Hansen 3 Tracks are measured in time and distance. Times given Track classifications are a guide only and will vary depending on weather, track conditions and fitness levels of the people participating. Short walk • Easy walking for up to an hour Abbreviations • Track is well formed with an even, well drained surface. There may be steps SH State Highway • Suitable for people of most ages and fitness levels VC Visitor Centre • Stream and river crossings are bridged FP Forest Park • Walking shoes required Public transport: The only public transport available is access into the Wairarapa by train or bus from Wellington. Walking track Bird watching: All DOC-managed areas are suitable for • Gentle walking from a few minutes to a day viewing birds. • Track is mostly well formed, some sections Botany: All public conservation land is suitable for may be steep, rough or muddy viewing plants. • Suitable for people with low to moderate fitness and abilities • Some tracks suitable for mountain biking • Clearly signposted. Stream and river crossings are bridged • Walking shoes or light tramping/hiking boots required Easier tramping track Plan and prepare • Comfortable multi-day tramping/hiking It is important to plan and prepare your trip and be well equipped. Before you go, know the Outdoor Safety Code – 5 simple rules to • Track is generally well formed, some sections help you stay safe: may be rough, muddy or steep 1. Plan your trip. Take a map/track brochure and remember to • Suitable for people with limited backcountry (remote area) buy hut tickets for overnight stays. experience 2. Tell someone responsible where you are going and estimated • Some tracks suitable for mountain biking return time. • Track has signs, poles or markers. Major stream and river 3. Be aware of the weather. Check weather forecasts before you crossings are bridged go on 0900 999 24 or www.metservice.com • Light tramping/hiking boots required 4. Know your limits. 5. Take sufficient supplies. Tramping track Leave your trip details with a trusted contact. For more information • Challenging day or multi-day tramping/hiking see www.adventuresmart.org.nz • Track is mostly unformed, may be rough and steep Your safety is your responsibility • Suitable for people with moderate to high level backcountry (remote areas) skills and experience, navigation and survival skills required • Some tracks suitable for mountain biking Alert! • Track has markers, poles or rock cairns. Expect unbridged Facilities and services can change. Before you set out, stream and river crossings check the latest track and hut information on the DOC website: www.doc.govt.nz/recreation • Tramping/hiking boots required For your own safety, never leave valuables on display in car. 4 5 Walking opportunities by area Tararua Forest Park Established in 1954, the forest park stretches from3 the 2 3 Rimutaka Summit on SH2 to the PahiatuaPALMERSTON Track in the north. At approximately 116,535 ha it is the largest conservationNORTH park WOODVILLE in the North Island. It provides visitors with opportunities for tramping, hunting, walking and studying56 plants in a wild, 1 er natural landscape. Riv u at aw 57 an M PAHIATUA Waewaepa Backcountry hut Scenic Backcountry hut Carnival Park Reserve Booked hut / lodge Scenic Reserve (exclusive use) Booked hut / lodge (exclusive use) 2 DOC land / access point Makuri Gorge DOC land / access point Scenic Reserve Track (walking, tramping, route) r Track (walking, tramping, route) ve Ri a ok 0 LEVN1010 2020 kmkm in ta Puketoi a g n Conservation Area a M EKETAHUNA page 16 Putara W.A. Miller Scenic Reserve Waingawa River above Cow Creek. Photo: Joe Hansen OTAKI TARARUA Ruamahanga PUKAHA Dog walking care code MOUNT 1 FOREST BRUCE When enjoying a day in the park with your dog, Kiriwhakapapa page 15 R please follow these simple guidelines: u Kapiti Island Otaki a WAIKANAE PARK Mikimiki page 14m Forks a • Keep your dog under control at all times—a dog out h a Upper ng of sight is a dog out of control a page 13 Waingawa R i PARAPARAUMU v Castlepoint • Carry a leash and use it where required e Holdsworth page 8 r Scenic Reserve • Ensure your dog does not disrupt other people’s enjoyment of WaingawaMASTERTON River the park Mangatarere • Clean up after your dog—take a plastic bag and always pick Waiohine page 10 Gorge up your dog’s waste 2 DOC Whakaoriori/ page 13 Kaipaitangata Masterton page 12 CARTERTON Office Kaitoke Waiohine River Mana Island Bucks Rd 2 GREYTOWN page 12 Carter Scenic R.W. Tate Reserve PORIRUA Scenic Reserve FEATHERSTON 6 Riversdale Beach LOWER HUTT Lake er iv Wairarapa R MARTINBOROUGH a Rewa Bush g Waiorongomai n ha Conservation Area ma Matiu/Somes ua RIMUTAKA R Flat Point Island Rocky Hills Sanctuary Area FOREST WELLINGTON PARK Papatahi/ Onoke Access Honeycomb Rock Conservation area AORANGI Walkway Corner Honeycomb Rock Track (walking, tramping, route) Creek Lake Onoke FOREST Backcountry hut Turakirae Head Booked hut / lodge Putangirua (exclusive use) Scenic Reserve PARK Palliser Bay 0 10 20 kilometres Tora Cape Palliser Holdsworth Getting there Turn off SH2 into Norfolk Road, 2 km south of Masterton. Follow signs to Tararua Forest Park, approximately 15 km from SH2. Vehicle access Sealed road to Holdsworth suitable for all types of vehicles. Attractions: This is the main entrance to the eastern side of the Tararua Forest Park. Caretaker on site. Tararua Bush. Photo Joe Hansen Donnelly Flat Loop Walking track. Length: 1 hour round trip, 2.5 km Rocky Lookout Walking track. Length: 1 hr 30 min one way, 1.9 km Cross the Atiwhakatu footbridge and follow the relatively flat track to Donnelly Flat camping area. From here the track Follow the well-graded Gentle Annie track from the Loop continues to the Atiwhakatu Track junction, and loops back to Walk to a viewing platform with extensive views of Powell the Holdsworth car park via the foot of the Gentle Annie Track. Hut, Mt Holdsworth, Jumbo Hut, Mitre Flat, Atiwhakatu valley and the plains out east. Atiwhakatu Hut Walking track. Length: 3 hr one way, 7.2 km Follow the walk past Donnelly Flat. Well-developed track running through bush and alongside river. Holdsworth Lookout Tramping track. Length: 1 hr one way, 1 km Cross the Atiwhakatu footbridge and continue up a steep forest-clad spur to a clearing with magnificent views. Other tramping tracks to huts Including Powell, Jumbo, Totara Flats and Mitre Flats huts More details can be found at http://www.doc.govt.nz/Holdsworth 8 Mount Holdsworth Roadend. Photo Joe Hansen 9 HISTORIC SITE Waiohine Gorge Cone hut Getting there Turn off SH2 just south of Carterton into Dalefield Road. Follow the signs indicating Tararua Forest Park, approximately 15 km from SH2. Vehicle access Unsealed road for final 9 km. Attractions: Popular camping and recreation area, and entrance to south-eastern Tararua Forest Park. Spectacular swingbridge, rafting, tubing and kayaking (grade II) and several swimming holes. ocated in the upper Tauherenikau valley, in the south­ Totara Flats Hut Leastern section of Tararua Forest Park, Cone is the Easy tramping track. Length: 4 hr one way, 10 km second­oldest hut in the Tararuas and was constructed by New Zealand’s first tramping club, the Tararua Tramping Club. Cone Hut Cone Hut was built using local tōtara timbers, adzed into Tramping track. Length: 3 hr one way, 4.6 km framing and split into slab walls. This was a very rare form of construction by the 1940s. By the early 1980s the hut had fallen into a state of disrepair. After assessing the heritage importance of the site and developing a plan, it was decided to rebuild the hut using the same construction method and materials as in 1946. This work was undertaken by the Tararua Tramping Club with the assistance of the Department of Conservation.