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Proposal to extend Te Araroa Trail along Oriwa Ridge, Tararua Forest Park

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Proposal to extend Te Araroa Trail - discussion document (PDF. 519K)

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Background

The Wellington Regional Te Araroa Trust proposes to create a track linking Waiopehu Hut with Waitewaewae Hut via Oriwa Ridge, Tararua Forest Park.

The Te Araroa Trust was formed in 1994 with the aim of creating a “walkway the length of New Zealand for all to enjoy”. Te Araroa, The Long Pathway, is to be a continuous 3000 km walking track from Cape Reinga to Bluff connecting various settlements, towns and cities en route.

The Department of Conservation cemented its support for the walkway concept in 2002 when a “Memorandum of Understanding” was signed with the Te Araroa Trust recognising that substantial sections of the “walkway” will traverse land managed by the Department.

Guiding this relationship is a set of “Operation Guidelines” with key principles for the development of the Te Araroa trail, including:

Preference is for the Trust and the Department to use existing trails. New assets/trails may be considered providing no alternative exists.
If new trail proposals do not fit with the range of recreation opportunities provided by DOC, the Trust and the Department will investigate solutions for the Trust to meet its goals of a continuous pathway.

The Department manages the Tararua Forest Park under the Conservation Act 1987 and is guided by statutory documents such as the Conservation Management Strategy (CMS). The legislation and CMS provide national and regional frameworks for local decision making about activities and facilities in the park.

Proposal

It is proposed to form a track that links the Te Araroa trail from Poads Road, Levin, to Otaki Forks, a distance of approximately 37.5 km. The section from Waiopehu Hut to Waitewaewae Hut that includes Oriwa Ridge, comprises approximately 15 km of this distance.

Oriwa Ridge, centre, viewed from
Pukematawai (foreground)

The first section, from Poads Road to Waiopehu Hut, follows a track that has been in existence since the early 1920s, to the 18 bunk Waiopehu Hut built in 2002.

Above Waiopehu Hut, the proposed track would follow the existing track up through open tussock land with patches of leatherwood, then diverge from the existing track near Waiopehu Peak (1097 metres).

Near Waiopehu Peak it is proposed to sidle down and around through open tussockland to reach Oriwa Ridge before entering the forest.

The track would then follow Oriwa Ridge to the Waitewaewae River near its confluence with the Otaki River. This section would require a shelter, given the expectant average walking time of six to eight hours from Waiopehu Hut to Waitewaewae Hut.

The track would descend Oriwa Ridge at first through a leatherwood belt merging with a silver beech forest and then through kamahi/red beech with increasing podocarp numbers.

Travel along much of the ridge is via a series of descents and ascents over various high points, with a relatively steep descent to the Waitewaewae River near the end. This section is not part of the existing track network and is designated in the Wellington Conservation Management Strategy as the “Otaki Remote Experience Area” - an area with few facilities, for more experienced recreational users.

The ridge is used by trampers as a through trip, requiring navigational skills and a degree of self sufficiency. Until recently there was a bivvy at Oriwa Lake hollow and when this was removed a water collection facility was installed to cater for visiting tramping/hunting parties.

From the base of Oriwa Ridge the track would cross the Waitewaewae River by bridge and follow the true right of the Otaki River downstream to the existing Waitewaewae Track, a short distance from Waitewaewae Hut. A bridge would be required across the Waitewaewae River to access the track to Waitewaewae Hut and beyond to Otaki Forks.

From the Waitewaewae River the track would sidle around the Otaki River through river flat beech forest and would then follow the existing Waitewaewae Track to Otaki Forks.