Proposal to extend Te Araroa Trail along Oriwa Ridge, Tararua Forest Park
Summary
The Wellington Regional Te Araroa Trust proposed to create a track linking Waiopehu Hut with Waitewaewae Hut via Oriwa Ridge, Tararua Forest Park.
After considering more than 200 submissions, DOC has decided against establishing a track along Oriwa Ridge, proposing that the Te Araroa Trust instead utilise the existing main ridge route it originally suggested - via Waiopehu, Te Matawai, Dracophyllum, Nichols and Waitewaewae huts, exiting at Otaki Forks.
Following this existing track network would not incur significant extra building and maintenance cost as it was part of the core network that DOC administers. The distance between huts was also shorter - 3 to 5 hours as opposed to 8 to 10 hours on Oriwa Ridge. The scenic route also leads through the Project Kaka: Tararua Nature Recovery Zone, enabling trampers to experience the anticipated marked improvement in vegetation condition and increase in bird life.
Oriwa Ridge, centre, viewed from
Pukematawai (foreground)
The conservancy's initial concerns about locating Te Araroa on the existing alpine track being out of step with the Te Araroa concept have been alleviated by the inclusion of alpine and rugged backcountry tracks into other sections of the walkway.
Contact
Further enquiries should be directed to:
back to top