This article was first published in Tararua Tramper May 2025, pp 20-21, with a map and photos.
Hemi Matenga Memorial Scenic Reserve and Kaitawa Scenic Reserve: An off-track experience
Wednesday 16 April
These two DoC reserves on the Kāpiti Coast are mostly formally untracked and are only occasionally experienced by club members. The aim of this trip was to experience some of the features and challenges on offer in ‘the backcountry' of the two reserves.
We began the adventure along the Huia Street DoC access track to the Hemi Matenga Memorial Scenic Reserve. At the bush edge we headed north along the lower boundary of the reserve, following a marked trap line. On a whim, the leader selected one of the adventurous bait station lines that ascend to the ridge line of the reserve. This line of ascent required the party members to use their bush mountaineering abilities for the first of three times on the day. Bush mountaineering skills are used on very steep slopes below the bush line. Another way of describing the requisite movement is ‘vertical grovelling’.
Once on the ridge line we headed north and made our way to Field (611m). From there we headed SSE to the first significant bump, then turned down the spur heading NE. This spur has a variety of track markers. Off its upper south side is the marked route down to the Lodestar plane crash site of 1949. We made a deviation to the site, as John had not been there previously.
Back up on the main spur we followed red markers down to the stream. Near the toe of the spur our downhill bush mountaineering skills were put to effective use. As we followed the watercourse downstream considerable care was required for foot placement, as much of the rock in the bed of the stream and along the verges was not firmly established. At the first major forks we lunched in a delightful punga grove, with streaks of sunlight piercing through.
Starting up the TL branch from the stream forks, we soon encountered the most significant water challenge of the trip. A waterfall less than two metres high was deeply incised, with greasy smooth sides. No option but to clamber up the defile with its flowing water, searching with boot toes for secure foot placements. That clamber was akin to unlocking a door to one's favourite room. The watercourse upstream was comfortable, attractive travel in soft afternoon light. There were occasional mature rimu that had fallen completely across the stream and we were able to easily crawl over or walk under them.
At the first forks up this Waikanae River headwater we left the stream and applied our most rigorous vertical grovelling techniques to get on to the spur rising in a NE direction. The spur rises about 140 metres to meet the broad main ridge that winds its way through the Kaitawa Reserve.
From that mound we followed a remnant logging road west, eventually reaching the crest of the ridgeline overlooking the Kāpiti coast and Kāpiti Island. A plod down a well- graded logging road took us to the end of an eight-hour adventure at the top of Hadfield Road.
Bill Allcock (leader and scribe), John Dement, David McNabb