Alice Nash Memorial Heritage Lodge Track
Track category
Tramping track
Time:
45 min
Description
From the carpark a steadily graded track descends to the Park boundary. Shortly after this a picturesque arched wooden bridge crosses high above a narrow gorge in Umutoi Creek. The track, a former logging road, continues on through beech forest to Heritage Lodge situated with a spectacular view up the Oroua River.
Just before the hut a track leads down to some flats beside the Oroua River ideal for overnight camping and picnicking. Allow 30 - 40 min to get to the river. From the hut it is another 4 hr walk on to Iron Gate Hut or 3 - 4 hr up a steep climb to Tunupo high point.
Volunteer opportunities
There are several different volunteer opportunities available to the public in this area.
Getting there
Just past the village of Kimbolton turn right onto Apiti Road which then becomes Oroua Valley Road. Go through Apiti and take the second turn right onto Table Flat Road and continue for several kms. Access to Ruahine Forest Park is signposted to the left soon after the road surface becomes unsealed. Take this road to the car park on farmland at the end of the road.
About the area
The Oroua River is one of the main rivers flowing out of western Ruahine Forest Park and is a very popular area for hunters, trampers and fishers. Tracks from the valley give access to the Ngamoko Range and further up to the Whanahuia Range. Regenerating forest on the edge of the park is evidence of past logging in this area. A mix of red beech and broadleaved forest occurs further in.
The original Heritage Lodge hut burned down in 2005. A generous donation towards rebuilding the hut was made by the family of the late Alice Nash, who had loved and explored this area often, during her time living in the local Rangiwahia vicinity. This donation together with considerable time and effort from the Manawatu branch of the NZ Deerstalkers Association, who manage this hut, saw the new Alice Nash Memorial Heritage Lodge completed in 2007.
Plan and prepare
Before you go into the outdoors, tell someone your plans and leave a date to raise the alarm if you haven't returned. To do this, use the New Zealand Outdoors Intentions process on the AdventureSmart website. It is endorsed by New Zealand's search and rescue agencies and provides three simple options to tell someone you trust the details about your trip.
Location map
