Waikawa Valley

16 Waikawa Valley

Access: Nine kilometres north of Otaki on SH1, North Manakau Rd leads E, and 4 km up this is the DoC ranger’s house.

Overview: Eight hundred metres before the ranger’s house, the huge Waikawa Picnic Ground lies at (NZMS260 S25 998 515), alongside the Waikawa Stream. From here access to Thompson is simple.

Beyond the ranger’s house, the old, narrow logging road rises high above the Waikawa Gorge for 6.3 km to the road-end car-park. This road is fairly rough, and with only limited maintenance, its future integrity is less certain. Three hundred metres before this terminal carpark is the Panatewaewae Ridge Track, now somewhat overgrown. Three hundred metres beyond the carpark is the junction of the Waikawa and Panatewaewae Streams. At these forks, the foundation of a logging bridge leads across the Panatewaewae to the terrace beyond. Easy travel over old logging trails from here leads (to the L) NE up the Panatewaewae and (to the R) S up the Waikawa.

Suitably challenging routes lead further to various remote adventures.

Just downstream from the forks a track leads above the TL of the Waikawa Stream to the picnic ground, with a much more energetic scramble to the same destination offered via Thompson spurs. These two trails are not further described and now (2003??) may not be well-padded.

16.1 Waikawa picnic ground to Thompson QFG

Beyond the ford at the Waikawa picnic ground, a good logging road (unsuited to cars) leads to the Thompson summit, 2 hours or so distant.

Beyond Thompson another logging road drops to the Waitohu. Old BN blazes lead over 828 to Mick, or down the spur from 828 to the West Waitewaewae River.

16.2 Panatewaewae 728 QBN

These ridges all suffered badly in the 1936 storm, and overgrown travel still offers challenge, but the ridge is negotiable to the Makaretu – East Waitewaewae saddle at a BN level.

16.3 Panatewaewae Valley QFG/QOT+

From the forks terrace 300 metres beyond the roadend carpark, a well-padded track leads L up the Panatewaewae Valley to the flats 40 minutes away. Several stream crossings are necessary. Thus far it is FG country, river level permitting.

There are no tracks beyond this, and it becomes OT and BN country.

From the high grass terrace on the last flats opposite stream (NZMS260 S25 031 506), an OT route leads to the overgrown logging road on the ridge near 635, and thus back to the road 300 metres down-valley of the carpark. On this route, do not drop out fully into the open farm country!

16.4 Waitewaewae 939 QOT

«» Several routes exist to the Waitewaewae trig. Any of the spurs between the sawmill site in the Waikawa and those in the Panatewaewae eventually gain Waitewaewae 939, which leads easily to 969. The spurs all bear 1936 storm damage, but OT bushcraft skills should suffice.

«» In the Panatewaewae the falls above the 450-metre contour may be bypassed, with sufficient time and grit, to the minor flats beyond. Spurs from this stream access various Waitewaewae headwaters (some BN country).

16.5 Waikawa Stream from the forks QFG

At the forks 300 metres beyond the roadend carpark, cross the Panatewaewae Stream, gain the terrace and turn R. Ten minutes up the Waikawa Stream brings a clearing, a slip, and then the swampy grass of the old sawmill site. The old logging tram-line formation keeps in the bush-fringe at the clearings.

The tracks beyond the millsite are not cleared, but traces of the old logging tram-lines may be explored for some distance up the various streams.

16.6 Waikawa Saddle to West Waitewaewae QOT

Follow the track for 2 minutes beyond the sawmill site in the Waikawa (16.5) and drop to the forks. Follow the branches up to the saddle at (NZMS260 S25 025 467), sidling the fall on the TR. From the saddle, a few minutes brings the West Waitewaewae River – 90 minutes from the sawmill site. See also 14.14.