Regional Map

See Public Forest entry.

Kaitawa Scenic Reserve

See Public Forest entry.

The Mangaone walking track follows an old bush tramway historically known as the ‘Reikorangi Track’.

See also Public Forest entry.

Kapiti Coast Walkway/Cycleway

Bush clad hills have a variety of tracks ranging from easy (some suitable for wheelchairs) to challenging.

See also Public Forest entry.

This 25km track passes along the coast and through parkland between Paekākāriki and Peka Peka. The opening of another 15km to Ōtaki is scheduled for mid 2001.

The on-road sections are marked by a blue line which starts at the Northern entrance of Queen Elizabeth Park (Raumati).

Tunnel Gully / Pakuratahi Forest

Many easy tracks.

See also River and Water-Front Parks entry.

Rimutaka Incline

18 km walk through the Rimutaka Forest Park follows the route of the old Wairarapa railway line. Easy gradient.

Walks ranging from easy to challenging.

See also Public Forest entry.

Bicycle Sites

The Karapoti Classic international mountain biking event is held here on a 50 km track.
See also Public Forest entry.

Kapiti Coast Walkway/Cycleway

Tracks ranging in grade from easy to hard and 1 to 4 hours in time. Experienced riders can spend a day exploring tracks in the Akatārawa Forest (you end up in Upper Hutt).

See also Public Forest entry.

This 25km track passes along the coast and through parkland between Paekākāriki and Peka Peka. The opening of another 15km to Ōtaki is scheduled for mid 2001.

The on-road sections are marked by a blue line which starts at the Northern entrance of Queen Elizabeth Park (Raumati).

Tunnel Gully / Pakuratahi Forest

Many easy rides running from Paekākāriki to Paraparaumu. Lovely in summer.

See also River and Water-Front Parks entry.

Rimutaka Incline

An 18 km track through the Rimutaka Forest Park follows the route of the old Wairarapa railway line. Easy gradient. From the summit there are numerous forestry tracks to explore, and the run down to Cross Creek on the Wairarapa side is fun.

Tracks ranging from easy to challenging.

See also Public Forest entry.

Drinking Water Sources

Hutt Water Collection Area

Eco-Spiritual Sites

Bodhinyanarama Forest Monastery

Bodhinyanarama, or the Garden of Enlightened Knowing is a monastic residence of the Theravada tradition of Buddhism set in a 51 hectare Native Reserve of regenerating bush.

Open to visitors, come relax in a green environment.

Signposted from Rākau Grove, Stokes Valley.

Farm Animals

Lindale Farm

A working farm designed for tourists—try milking a cow or shearing a sheep. The attached shops sell excellent homemade lunches, icecream, and cheeses.

Address: State Highway 1, Paraparaumu

Great Views

Sweeping views of the South Island, Kapiti Island, and Pāuatahanui valley from hill top walks.
See also Public Forest entry.

Ridge Track provides panoramic views of the Hutt Valley.

See also Public Forest entry.

Native Fauna

Kapiti Island

Native Flora

Originally containing lowland podocarp-hardwood and podocarp-beech forest, much of the kahikatea, mataī, miro, rimu, and tōtara was logged 1930–1972.

See also Public Forest entry.

Kaitawa Scenic Reserve

Includes a 33 hectare remnant of kohekohe forest and an area of wetlands.

See also Public Forest entry.

The regenerating forest features spires of rewarewa trees which will eventually be replaced by the original tall canopy trees: Kahikatea, mataī, miro, rata, and rimu.

Five species of tree fern line the track: Kātote, mamaku, ponga, wheki, and wheki-ponga. Ground ferns and delicate filmy ferns on tree trunks also line the track.

See also Public Forest entry.

Mature native forest including hard beech, black beech, red beech, hīnau, kāmahi, northern rata, and rimu.

Also supports common forest birds as well as North Island kākā, yellow-crowned parakeet, and a significant number of New Zealand falcon.

Te Mārua bush by the entrance to the park is particularly significant. Just 3 hectares of predominantly maire, mataī, and tōtara grow on an old alluvial terrace, and is typical of the river terrace forests which once covered this area.

See also Public Forest entry.

Some of the only remaining, almost complete, dune sequences in Wellington and 10 hectares of ephemeral wetlands. Typical trees of lowland swamp forest—kahikatea (white pine), mataī, pukatea, and swamp maire—grow within the park’s 2 hectare forest remnant.

See also River and Water-Front Parks entry.

Public Forest

Huge area between Upper Hutt and Paraparaumu.

Kaitawa Scenic Reserve

Working farm located 6 km from Pāuatahanui along Paekākāriki Hill Road.

Site of the historic 1846 battle between Te Rangihaeta and Crown forces.

Contact: Ranger
Phone: 237 5511

Tunnel Gully / Pakuratahi Forest

Some 2,500 hectares of magnificent native forest.

Contact: Ranger
Phone: 526 7322

Waterfront Parks