Plan & prepare

Check the Wellington alerts page for the latest information on facilities.

Getting there

Catchpool Valley, 30 km from Wellington, is the most popular entrance to Rimutaka Forest Park.

There are also entry points along the Western Lake Road in the Wairarapa - at Cross Creek (the start of the Rimutaka Rail Trail), Waiorongamai Track, Battery Stream/Papatahi Crossing and Ocean Beach.

Protecting kiwi from dogs

The long-standing requirement to keep dogs on a lead in the Catchpool Valley will be enforced to protect North Island brown kiwi released into the park by the Rimutaka Forest Park Trust.

The Catchpool Valley entrance to the
Rimutaka Forest Park

This includes dogs on the McKerrow, Clay Ridge, Orongorongo, Butcher and Cattle Ridge Tracks. Dogs must also be kept on a lead on the Whakanui Track from Sunny Grove Wainuiomata to about three quarters of the way to the Orongorongo River.

A dog exercise area, where dogs may be let off their leads, has been designated in an area between the Catchpool Valley Road and Catchpool Stream opposite the visitor centre.