Wairarapa Moana Wetlands Park
Introduction
Wairarapa Moana Wetlands Park
Wairarapa Moana Wetlands Park is the largest wetland complex in the southern North Island, supporting native plants and animals of national and international importance.
The park is made up of the beds of Lake Wairarapa and Lake Onoke and the publicly owned reserves around them. This covers over 9,000 hectares, from Lake Domain in the north to Onoke Spit, 30km away, at Palliser Bay.
The wetlands are traditionally and spiritually important to Maori as an area for food gathering, including eel, fish, waterfowl, and plant material, in particular, flax and raupo.
The majority of the wetlands are protected as either conservation areas or wildlife and scenic reserves, managed by the Department of Conservation. Fish and Game New Zealand owns and manages an area of wetland for game birds, and the Lake Domain recreation reserve is managed by the South Wairarapa District Council. There are also areas of private land adjacent to the lake protected by QE2 covenants.
Restoration projects to restore the balance of nature on the public land are supported by farmers and the wider community, with the Department of Conservation, iwi, regional and local councils working together to protect the wetlands for future recreational enjoyment.
Features
Lake Waiararapa
The park contains mudflats, lagoons, sand flats, marshlands, salt marshes and back waters which are regularly flooded or exposed, depending on the season.
Over the years, weather patterns, manipulating the lake levels, clearances and drainage for farming have impacted on the size and nature of the wetlands and surrounding private pasture land.
The diverse habitats in the Wairarapa Moana Wetlands Park attract a wide range of wetland birds. Almost 100 bird species have been recorded there over the past two decades, including some international migratory birds. Particularly the lake's eastern shore is a habitat of national importance for water and wader birds.
Facilities
Location
Located in the southern Wairarapa plains near Featherston, about an hour's drive from Wellington City. Lake Domain (picnic area and toilets) is around 8 km from Featherston. The Wairarapa Lake Shore Scenic Reserve (parking and picnic area) is around 16 km from Featherston.
Getting there
To reach Lake Domain, head north from Wellington, turn off State Highway 2 at the start of Featherston and onto the Featherston-Martinborough Road. Turn right onto Murphy's Lane and then right onto Lake Domain Road which takes you to the domain.
To get to the Wairarapa Lake Shore Scenic Reserve, head north from Wellington, turn right off State Highway 2 at the start of Featherston onto the Western Lake Road which takes you around the shores of the lake to the signposted reserve.
To view the eastern lake shore, turn right off the Featherston-Martinborough Road onto Kahutara Road. Drive about 15 km until you reach Paerera Road on the right. About 3km down Paerera Road there is signposted access to the lake across a paddock.
Activities
Bird and wildlife watching
Dog walking
The park has many access points and a variety of recreation activities including boating, yachting, fishing, duck hunting and walking.
Lake Domain Reserve
Access via South Featherston Road. Popular with walkers, mountain bikers, picnickers, campers and duck-shooters, this open area is great for recreation, although exposed to the elements. Projects are underway to encourage the growth of native plants.
Matthews and Boggy Pond Wildlife Reserve
Access via Parera Road, off Kahutara Road. Observe wetland birds - ducks, swans, white herons, stilts, bitterns, royal spoonbills - from a new viewing hide accessed via an 800 m walking and mountain biking track. Return to the road, or explore a longer 2.6 km loop.
Wairio Block
Access via Parera Road, off Kahutara Road. The area provides several kilometres of access to the eastern shore of Lake Wairarapa and features large flocks of wading birds during the summer months. Long grass and thick wetland plants make walking difficult.
Wairarapa Lake Shore Scenic Reserve
Access via Western Lake Road. The only remaining area where native forest still reaches the lake shore, it features trees such as black beech, titoki, nikau and karaka. Three separate roadside areas provide opportunities for picnicking and extensive lake views.
Pounui Lagoon
Separated from Lake Onoke by a stopbank in the 1960s, this is an excellent example of a native salt marsh. Wetland birds can be viewed from the stopbank, although access may be limited particularly in whitebait season.
Onoke Spit
Access at the end of Western Lake Road, Palliser Bay. A 3 km spit of land which extends to the sea channel separating it from the Lake Ferry settlement on the opposite shore. It is a breeding ground for the rare Caspian tern and habitat for banded dotterel, albatross and penguins. Lower slopes are home to rare grasses, katipo, lizards and other wildlife. Out to sea, dolphins, seals and whales are sometimes visible.
Bird and wildlife watching
Among the birds spotted in the wetlands are large numbers of bar-tailed godwit, golden plover, pied stilt, banded dotterel, black-fronted dotterel, great knot, Japanese Snipe and Caspian tern. The wetlands are important breeding, feeding and roosting habitat for waterfowl, including grey duck, NZ shoveler, grey teal and paradise shelduck. Three species of shag (black, little black and little pied), New Zealand dabchick, Australasian bittern, marsh crake and spotless crake also inhabit the wetlands.
The best place for seeing birds is Matthews and Boggy Pond Wildlife Reserve, where there is a viewing hide accessed via an 800 m walking/cycling track or a longer 2.6 km loop track.
Dog walking
You can take dogs to the lake as long as they are kept under control to protect the wading birds.
Weather
It can get very windy and wet underfoot, so ensure you have warm clothing and waterproof footwear.
Plan and prepare
There is a total fire ban at the Lake Domain from October to March.
Prevent the spread of aquatic weeds by washing your boats and dogs after they've been in the water (check, clean, dry).
Other places to visit
Carter Scenic Reserve - an easy walk through a flooded kahikatea forest and along the Ruamahanga River.
back to top
Guides and commercial tourism providers