What’s so different? A few things to consider when using the tracks: The consist of two main inhabited Safety is your responsibility – are you well Chatham islands – Chatham and Pitt – and many smaller outlying prepared for all weather and conditions? islands within a 40 km radius. lies 17 km • Plan, prepare and equip Islands walks southeast of . yourself well Chatham Island, formed by tectonic uplift and repeated • Choose a trip suitable for Chatham Islands Rēkohu/Wharekauri volcanic eruptions, is predominantly flat with gently- the skills, knowledge and rolling landscapes and several small peaks in the experience of your group – A guide to public-access northwest. covers about 20,000 be realistic walking tracks hectares – one fifth of the island. • Check the latest weather The original inhabitants of the Chatham Islands were and conditions the , who may have arrived at least 500 years • Facilities and services ago. They named the islands ‘Rēkohu’ (meaning ‘misty change! Always check the skies’), and adapted their culture and lifestyle to the latest information before prevailing harsh climatic conditions. you venture out A Royal Navy party, led by Lieutenant William • Let someone know before you go Broughton in the brig Chatham, rediscovered Rēkohu in November 1791 and gave the island its European name. • There is no mobile phone coverage Māori arrived in 1835, landing in (Whangaroa Harbour). Ngāti Mutunga and Ngāti Tama named the You are welcome to enjoy the walks in this brochure island ‘Wharekauri’. without seeking permission. Some places of interest are The islands’ rich biodiversity of plant and bird life make located on (or accessed through) private property, for them important to conservation. The islands support which permission and a fee may be required. Main visitor 20% of ’s threatened bird species, and 11% of sites are signposted. Please leave gates as you find them its threatened plants. and if in doubt, please ask. Interpretation boards throughout the island hold information about the surrounding environment. Look out for the many island treasures hiding in plain sight. For more information There are 10 public walking tracks. Most are signposted Rekohu/Wharekauri/Chatham Island Office with brown signs from the road, and have picnic tables North Rd, Te One and a toilet. Chatham Island Phone: +64 3 305 0098 The rugged roads of the Chatham Islands provide [email protected] unique opportunities for mountain biking. Visitors can www.doc.govt.nz bring bikes or hire from local providers. Published by: A round trip on the Te Matarae loop or return trip down Department of Conservation the South Coast from Waitangi are all options to be Rekohu/Wharekauri/Chatham Island Office explored. Most roads are well graded with the island PO Box 114, Waitangi Chatham Island 8942 being relatively flat. High-vis gear, safety glasses or November 2018 sunnies and helmets are a must. Ensure you book your Editing and design:

bike through freight if you are bringing it Publishing Team, DOC National Office This publication is produced using paper sourced from well-managed, renewable

to the island. and legally logged forests. R41171 Plants and birds to look out for

Nīkau Chatham Island tree daisy/ Parea/Chatham Island sapida akeake pigeon A tall palm with an erect trunk Olearia traversiorum Hemiphaga chathamensis ringed with scars of fallen Akeake is common on the Chatham Although related to the kererū leaves. It bears lilac flowers from Islands systems, and grows up the parea is considered a different November to April, and hard to 15 m tall. At Henga and Ocean species – it is heavier, has more fruit (which turn red when ripe) Mail scenic reserves you will see purple plumage and an orange tip from February to November. planting efforts to recover the on its bill. akeake forest.

Chatham Island ribbonwood Hoho Chatham Island tūī Plagianthus regius subsp. Pseudopanax chathamicus Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae chathamicus This plant grows up to 12 m tall chathamensis This deciduous tree grows up to and is endemic to the Chathams. The Chatham Island tūī is a 15 m tall. The greenish flowers It is a relative to the lancewood but subspecies of the New Zealand appear from October to February, looks distinctly different in juvenile tūī. It has longer throat tufts, is while brown fruit occurs in open form. Hoho berries are an important larger and has a different song. clusters from February to March. winter food source for parea.

Chatham Island aster Tarahinau Olearia semidentata arboreum This shrub prefers wet habitats Tarahinau can grow up to 12 m and flowers from November to tall and has almost black bark. March. The mauve flowers fade Decomposed tarahinau leaves with age. The fruit are crowned make up much of the peat on the by hair-like bristles and ripen Chatham Islands. Tarahinau is from January to June. common in southern Chatham Island.

Chatham Island / Chatham Island forget-me- kakaha not/kopakopa/kopukapuka Astelia chathamica Myosotidium hortensia Known as the Moriori flax, this This glossy-leafed ‘’ plant has long leaves clad in is found on coastal cliffs, rocky silvery hairs. It flowers from outcrops and beaches. It flowers October to December, and bears from September to October. orange or red fruit from February to July. Wharekauri "

Ocean Mail Point Munning ¯ Waitangi Scenic Reserve West Kaingaroa Conservation Covenant "

" N O R T R PORT Lake HU T Nikau Bush TT RD H R Conservation Area Rangitai Port " D Hutt Wharekauri " RD T R J M Barker (Hapupu) Ocean Mail Point Munning O ¯ Waitangi Scenic Reserve P R West Kaingaroa Conservation Covenant I National Historic Reserve "

A " N O R T R PORT Lake HU T Nikau Bush TT RD H R Conservation Area Rangitai Henga Scenic Reserve Port " D Te Whanga Hutt RD T R J M Barker (Hapupu) O Lagoon RP AI National Historic Reserve

Henga Scenic Reserve Te Whanga Wharekauri Lagoon Tikitiki Hill Conservation" Area Chatham Island Chatham Island " Tikitiki Hill Conservation Area Te One " (Rēkohu/ W harekauri) Te One (Rēkohu/ W harekauri) Lake " " Waitangi Huro Te Matarae LOakcee an Mail Point Munning " " D Waitangi Waitangi Te Matarae R Huro KU O ¯ Scenic Reserve TU WEN GA West Kaingaroa Conservation Covenant RD "

" D N R U O TUK OW EN R G T R " PORT A RD Lake HU T Nikau Bush TT RD H R Conservation Area Rangitai Port " D Thomas Mohi Tuuta Hutt (Rangaika) Scenic Reserve

RD T Owenga R J M Barker (Hapupu) O " RP AI National Historic Reserve

AUCKLAND Henga Scenic Reserve ! Te Whanga Lagoon Thomas Mohi Tuuta Flower Pot (Onoua) " (Rangaika) Scenic Reserve ! Chatham Ellen Elizabeth Preece Islands Tikitiki Hill Conservation Area Chatham Island ! Conservation Covenant " (Caravan Bush) Te One " Waipaua (Rēkohu/ W harekauri) ! Pitt Is land Lake (Rangiauria) " " Public conservation land Waitangi Huro Te Matarae 0 5 10 20 Km " D " R "

KU O " Conservation covenant TU WEN GA R Te Whanga D Lagoon C h atham Island " (Rēkohu / Wharekauri)

AUCKLAND " " ! Toilets Shelter

" There are opportunities to Owenga mountain bike on some tracks " Flower Pot

" over the summer months when (Onoua)

" " Pitt Island WELLINtrackGTO Nsurfaces are ideal. (Rangiauria) ! Grade 2. Mostly flat with EASY some gentleChath climbsam on Thomas Mohi Tuuta Ellen Elizabeth Preece CHRISTCHURCsmoothH track,Is withland easilys ! avoidable obstacles such as rocks (Rangaika) Scenic Reserve Conservation Covenant and potholes. (Caravan Bush) " Waipaua DUNEDIN Grade 3. Steep slopes and/or ! INTERMEDIATE avoidable obstacles, possibly Pitt Is land on narrow track and/or with poor traction. There may be exposure at N (Rangiauria) the track's outside edge. Bikes may need to be carried in some areas. 0 5 10 km 0 5 10 20 Km AUCKLAND !

Flower Pot (Onoua) " WELLINGTON !

Chatham Ellen Elizabeth Preece CHRISTCHURCH Islands ! Conservation Covenant (Caravan Bush) " Waipaua DUNEDIN ! Pitt Is land (Rangiauria)

0 5 10 20 Km Ocean Mail Scenic Reserve Henga Scenic Reserve Thomas Mohi Tuuta (Rangaika) 830 hectares, purchased by in 1990 170 hectares, gifted by Denise and John Sutherland and Scenic Reserve The contrasting landscapes of dune systems, akeake fenced in 1982 407 hectares, gifted by Thomas and Annie Tuuta in 1977 forest and peat wetlands meet in Ocean Mail. The picnic This reserve features a huge sand-dune system, coastal forest, This reserve is a great example of peatland forest that once area overlooks the akeake reforestation project. From the impressive vegetation regeneration, limestone outcrops and covered most of the southern Chatham Island. Tarahinau picnic area you reach the beach, where you can see a dune spectacular views over Petre Bay. forest dominates these regions where the gentle topography restoration project – planting native pīngao in place of In pre-European times the were covered in a mosaic favours peat formation. In contrast, the steep coastal banks introduced marram grass. of herbfields, mingimingi shrublands, and mixed akeake with their thin soils are clothed in hardy native herbs, flax and Wetland walk forest, which are now recovering. The inland dunes were mixed broadleaf forest or shrub. These species have adapted almost entirely covered in coastal forest made up of kōpī, to the full force of salt-laden winds. A 15 min loop walk with views of the wetland and peat lakes. matipo and akeake. This walk provides a close look at endemic plants such as the Access to this track is from the road on the way to Owenga. The Moriori occupied this area – living inland where the Chatham Island speargrass and bamboo rush. The full walk is approximately 8 hours. forest gave shelter, and using the ocean as a food source. Aster walk Access to this walking track is from North Road; follow the Tikitiki Hill Conservation Area A 20 min (return) walk along ancient sand dunes which fence to the reserve across the paddocks. Tikitiki Hill walk provides a great lookout over Petre Bay, reach into the vastness of the wetland. The beautiful purple The road to the lookout (return) is 1 hour 30 min; flowers of the Chatham Island swamp aster can be enjoyed towards the Red Bluffs. You’ll also be able to look down the full return walk is 2 hours 30 min. onto Waitangi township, and have a bird’s-eye view of from November to March. There is a picnic table is at the far INTERMEDIATE the Waitangi Wharf. This 10 min (return) walk is clearly end of this walk. J M Barker (Hapupu) EASY signposted and suitable for all ages and abilities. On a nice Lake walk National Historic Reserve day the lookout area is an ideal spot for a picnic. Be careful in This continues on from the Aster walk and will take about 33 hectares, gifted by Barker Brothers Ltd in 1979 strong winds as the lookout and track are very exposed. 2 hours 30 min to complete the 8 km loop track. The track This reserve is one of only two national historic reserves continues through the wetland along the shore of Lake in New Zealand. Hapupu is culturally and historically Ellen Elizabeth Preece Conservation Rangitai, then back to the road. Wear sturdy footwear on this significant because of the rākau momori on the kōpī () Covenant (Caravan Bush), Pitt Island track; in winter parts may be inundated by water. trees, and because of the Moriori archaeological landscape they sit within. Rākau momori are carvings incised or bruised 53 hectares, conservation covenant owned by John Nikau Bush Conservation Area into living kōpī trees by Moriori. The forest’s health has and Bridget Preece, and Greg and Karen Preece. 19 hectares, purchased by the Crown in 1981 declined in the past 10 years – and in the past 18 months There are two short loop tracks within Caravan Bush. Both On the north-western shore of Te Whanga Lagoon, this this decline has accelerated. Due to the decline, access tracks stay inside the area, which is surrounded by a cat-proof lowland broadleaf forest was once common throughout the is currently limited to try an increase the lifespan of the fence. Native birds like and tūī are abundant. Gain islands. This is the largest stand of nīkau remaining on main remaining carvings. Please contact DOC, by phone, email access by joining a guided tour with Flower Pot Lodge. Chatham Island and is spectacular when flowering between [email protected] or at www.doc.govt.nz December and January. The area was fenced in 1981 to exclude stock leading to rapid bush regeneration. Point Munning Conservation Covenant The full loop walk will take approximately 1 hour. 47 hectares, conservation covenant owned by the EASY Muirson family A unique example of protected forest and shrubs over schist rocks. The track opens out onto eerie, pock-marked peatland, then on to the seal colony. The walk takes 15 minutes one way.