Mapara Track
Track category
Tramping track
Time:
1 hour return
Distance:
2.5 km
Description
Kokako
Park on the side of the road, cross the swingbridge and take the steep loop track to the right.
The best time to hear the extraordinary call of the kokako is at dawn and dusk, however if you are patient you may hear and see them during the day. Take a pair of binoculars.
Getting there
The Mapara Wildlife Reserve and track is about 35 km southeast of Te Kuiti. Turn on to Kopaki Road from either SH4 or SH30 and then down Mapara South Road to the small kiosk at the reserve entrance.
Activities
Bird and wildlife watching
Bird and wildlife watching
A range of native birds may be seen along the track, including kereru, fantail, bellbird, tui, and silver-eyes. Kokako may also be heard and sometimes seen from the track. The more common forest birds may be seen anywhere along the track, however kokako are best seen from halfway up the loop track and beyond.The best time to hear kokako call is in the early morning or late evening. Bring a pair of binoculars and a head torch if you plan to walk the track before dawn.
About the area
The kokako recovery project started in the reserve in 1989 and has been the model for many other conservation projects around the country.
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.