Access to Ōtaki Forks: There has been, since 2021, no vehicle access to the Forks because of a large slip at Blue Bluff, and there is unlikely to be any in the foreseeable future.
Walking access is available to Tararua Forest Park using a DOC temporary Emergency Track. The track is 5km and 2 to 3 hours one way. This is a tough walk and significant extra effort.
The Kapiti Coast District Council walking access created in 2022-10 by the Kapiti Coast District Council is short, clearly marked, well used, and the main access route, however the council warns that "Walkers are not to cross at Blue Bluff, for their own safety". Some visitors carry their bicycles across the short track to speed access to the Forks.
The simplest driving access, coming from the south, is to take the Ōtaki exit from SH1, turn right onto the Ōtaki Gorge Road and cross the motorway and follow the road to Ōtaki Forks. You soon pass the Waiohanga suspension bridge which crosses the Ōtaki River and (with permission of the landowner) gives access to Tangata and Mick, etc.
The gravel road soon narrows to climb round the first of the gorge sidles. Remember that your stopping distance on a gravel road is thrice that on a sealed road! The concrete ford is passed, 0 km (dry your brakes), and the Pukehinau at 1.4 km. Visitor parking is available at 3.0km. Walk some 1km, through two locked gates, to reach the slip.
Previously the Blue Slip was at 4.0 km, and the Ōtaki Forks, marked by the pioneer memorial, at 6.0 km. At about 7.0 km the picnic area of Boielle Flat is obvious 300 metres down a branch road, the caretaker’s house with the overnight carpark is at 7.3 km, and the road-end and camping grounds of Schoolhouse Flat are at 9.0 km.
Camping is now available at Boielle Flat. [revised Jan 2024]
Rainfall data is available from the GWRC station at Oriwa Lake Hollow.
River flow data is available from the GWRC station at Pukehinau.
Ōtaki Forks Campsite
Ōtaki Forks Campsite
Ōtaki Forks Campsite is a Standard campsite, located at -40.881766, 175.222088, set in an forest and rivers and lakes landscape. Access is by campervan, car, and caravan. Activities include fishing, kayaking and canoeing, swimming, and walking and tramping. It has 150 unpowered sites with non-powered/tent sites, toilets - flush, water from tap - not treated, boil before use, wheelchair accessible, toilets, and water supply. Dogs on a leash only. Other pets on conservation land rules. are allowed. Bookings are not required, usage is first come, first served.Ōtaki Forks Campsite alert
Ōtaki Forks Campsite closed
Ōtaki Forks Campsite is closed due to the closure of Ōtaki Gorge Road. There is summer camping available at Boielles Campsite, however, this is foot access only. This can be booked online.
This is a long term alert.
First published on 15 December 2023. Last reviewed on 8 October 2024.
Ōtaki Gorge Road closed to vehicles and pedestrians
Ōtaki Gorge Road is closed to vehicles and pedestrians due to a major slip. Camping is available at Boielles Campsite but for foot access only.
There is an emergency track that you can walk to gain access to Ōtaki Forks. It is 5 km long and can be accessed 200 m past the locked gate on the Ōtaki Gorge Road.
First published on 20 December 2022. Last reviewed on 2 October 2024.
Access points
There are several access points from the road to the river. But be careful: children near water require continuous adult supervision. This is a big river!
«» A track (Bridgeview Track) just upstream of the Waiohanga (aka Kaitawa Rd) suspension bridge, starting from a small parking bay, gives a good exit from the river for rafts, kayaks, etc.
«» Seventy metres before the pioneer monument (where parking is available) at Ōtaki Forks proper, and opposite the old Post Office site, an old track, somewhat bouldery, leads to an extensive beach and the sometimes deep ford across the Ōtaki River. The river has in the past cut away the bottom of this track: there is now a 2 metre climb down a rock bank to the shingle beach. See Early settlement of Ōtaki Forks.
«» Two hundred metres beyond the high point of the road between the forks and Boielle Flat, a track drops L to the Waiotauru River and across it to Ōtaki Forks – a convenience for those coming down the Waitatapia. The roadside end of this is quite obscured but any believer should be able to find it.
Overview: The Ōtaki River system is by far the largest of the catchments within the Tararuas. The region known as Ōtaki Forks has as its focus the forks themselves: the junction of two large rivers (Ōtaki and Waiotauru) and, almost contiguously, the smaller Waitatapia Stream. This cross-shaped junction is seen from a small grassy flat beside the road, about 650 metres beyond the Roaring Meg. It was to this flat that timber and passengers from the mill on Sawmill Flat opposite were swung over on a wire cable. This site now displays a memorial cairn to the pioneers of the district.
The Ōtaki River rises under Pukematawai in the northern ranges and, as its valley lies along a fault line, for much of its length it is a delightful series of open flats and forest terraces – and the occasional slip. Near Waitewaewae Hut, the extensive Waitewaewae River system joins, and below this point the river soon flows through the curve of a major gorge to emerge at Ōtaki Forks. Here the Waiotauru River joins and the combined rivers now flow through a lesser gorge to arrive on the coastal plains. All three river systems, Waiotauru, Ōtaki and the Waitewaewae, are well forested, though there has been in the past much logging in the Waiotauru, and in the vicinity of Ōtaki Forks. [revised January 2019]
See also Ōtaki Forks & Field Hut (WRS, DOC).
Ōtaki Gorge Road
14.1 From Ōtaki at Kaitawa (Waihoanga) Road Bridge to Tangata Maunga and Mick
Climbing Tangata Maunga from the Kaitawa Road Suspension Bridge has been an option for many decades, but the access is over private land almost to the ridge top overlooking the Waitohu valley. There are at least three old logging roads which lead to the crest of the ridge. These 4WD roads appear to have no status, and the land on the cleared lower slopes is being increasingly subdivided so that each road runs through the property of more than one owner. Unless private arrangements can be made with the landowners, Tangata Maunga is now better approached from the Waitohu valley (see 15.3). [revised June 2019]
Ōtaki Forks vicinity
From Ōtaki Forks, tracks lead to Waitewaewae, the Ōtaki River (and Penn Creek), Field Hut and the Southern Crossing, etc., and the Waiotauru River. Within easy reach of Boielle Flat there are also several short local walks that are not described here. Information about these walks is displayed at the caretaker's house.
Please fill in the intentions book at the caretaker's before and after your trip. The phone at the caretaker's is not available for toll calls, but is available for local calls (Ōtaki and Levin) and for collect calls. Its number is 06 364 3111. [revised January 2019]
Parawai Lodge
Parawai Lodge
Parawai Lodge is a Standard hut, located at -40.873387, 175.232056. It has 18 bunks with heating, mattresses, toilets - non-flush, water from tap - not treated, boil before use, and water supply. Bookings are not required, usage is first come, first served.Parawai Lodge alert
Ōtaki Gorge Road closed to vehicles and pedestrians
Ōtaki Gorge Road is closed to vehicles and pedestrians due to a major slip. Camping is available at Boielles Campsite but for foot access only.
There is an emergency track that you can walk to gain access to Ōtaki Forks. It is 5 km long and can be accessed 200 m past the locked gate on the Ōtaki Gorge Road.
First published on 20 December 2022. Last reviewed on 2 October 2024.
14.2 Ōtaki Forks to Waitewaewae Hut via the Plateau
A trip of 5 hours or so nowadays. About 3½ hours from the Forks to the Plateau Saddle, and a further 1½ hours to the hut. In the 50s this trip used to be only 3 hours for a medium fitness party. Track and stream degradation, including large slips, then made this trip much longer. A new track avoids the worst sections but has not significantly reduced the time. (For the return journey, see 14.12.)
From Boielle Flat, cross the Waiotauru swingbridge and follow the old tramline which swings L to reach the higher terrace. (Parawai Lodge, sleeps 18, is nestled out of sight on the R on the lower river flat.) Once on the high terrace proper, the track forks. The track for Field Hut and the Southern Tararuas turns R. The Waitewaewae track on the L heads SE near the terrace-edge above the TL of the Ōtaki River.
Sawmill Flat is the high terrace seen to the NE across the Ōtaki River and the remains of the sawmill's steam boiler may be found at the NE corner. This mill (Corrigan's) was destroyed in the immense 1936 storm. Seen up the valley beyond is Plateau Saddle, with Shoulder Knob presenting as a high spur in the farther distance.
A few hundred metres along the terrace-edge, the Waitewaewae Track descends and crosses the Ōtaki River footbridge, 20 minutes from the carpark. It then climbs to regain the matching high terrace on the TR opposite.
Ten metres along from the TR of the bridge you will see the anchorage of the 1950s cullers' cable whose cage used to land on the prominent rock.
From the lip of Sawmill Flat the track turns R for a few metres before swinging sharply L to climb the gentle sidle track clearly seen to the NE. Thirty minutes from the bridge is a steepish up-and-over climb around the head of a slip – the same large slip which destroyed the tramline access from Sawmill Flat. This slip is still active (July 2021) and will soon enforce a higher climb to get past it. The trail now drops slightly to cross the first significant side-stream, where it joins the old bush tramline. From the stream the trail follows the tramline alignment, though bridges over the streams have rotted away and it is hard to credit that the tramline had a fairly uniform grade. The Ōtaki Forks Fault runs close to this track alignment, and just before Papa Creek a good 400 metres of the country is slipping down to the Waitatapia Stream. This slippage can be expected to increase.
There are now two routes to Plateau Saddle, neither very satisfactory, the first being safer and clearly marked, the second, some think, more pleasant but increasingly overgrown in Saddle Creek.
The new track to the saddle, clearly indicated, begins 20 minutes along the tramline, and although it is slow and sometimes rough, it avoids the slips and eroding creek-bed in its climb towards the saddle. Two hours brings the high point of the of the track, which then drops to meander across a flat area, in a further 20 minutes reaching Plateau Saddle at the head of Saddle Creek.
The old route to the saddle continues along the tramline towards the slippage before Papa Creek. Before reaching the slip, at Topo 50 BP33 907 740, drop on a cleared route to the Waitatapia Stream, and climb back up beyond the slip. This option should be avoided if the stream is running high, or during or after heavy rain when there is a risk of falling rocks. In such conditions, you could consider the older way of avoiding the slip, by climbing around the top. But there is currently no cut route through tangled bush at the very top and the new track to the saddle might well seem preferable. Beyond Papa Creek the old log-hauler boiler is passed, marking the end of the tramline, and just beyond this the trail drops sharply to Saddle Creek – perhaps 2 hours from Boielle Flat. Note carefully the exit from Saddle Creek if planning to return this way. Up Saddle Creek are intermittent tracks about half the time; otherwise the route is in the creek-bed. Soon after crossing a rough and recently washed-out side-stream on the TL some 80 minutes from the boiler, a smaller trickle is crossed and the track, on the TL, swings away from the main headwater and up the trickle towards Plateau Saddle – a turn-off that is not conspicuously marked. This area is the crush zone of the local fault and the eroding rock porridge is rather unstable. The saddle is reached 10 minutes after the washout stream – 90 minutes from the traction engine.
A few metres beyond the saddle, and surprisingly close to it, Plateau Stream is crossed. In the foreseeable future this headwater of Plateau Stream may be captured by Saddle Creek, an event that would lead to massive and long-lasting erosion in this vicinity. Two further crossings follow quickly, and the track then meanders over the Plateau's deep loam for 20 minutes or so before beginning the descent to Arapito Creek. The track now generally sidles the TR faces above this creek; beware the odd false pad leading off. Forty minutes from the saddle, it reaches the stream bank. Arapito is another European-generated Maori name and means 'the end of the track'.
Two routes offer to Waitewaewae Hut from here:
The high (wet-weather) sidle crosses the creek and travels the hillsides above the big slips on the Ōtaki River, then drops to the head of the bush flats downstream of the Waitewaewae Hut. This fine hut, sleeps 16, is located on the TR of the Ōtaki River on the flats S of .380. (At the head of the bush flats the route to the upper Ōtaki continues to the N over a small saddle; the upper river can also be reached by crossing the swingbridge beyond the hut.)
In normal weather one may decline the stream crossing and continue down intermittent trails alongside Arapito Creek to its junction with the Ōtaki River. Follow alongside the river until past the slips, then splash up the river itself, with a few crossings, to reach the hut. It may be necessary to go a little further up the river to make the final crossing.
About 90 minutes from Plateau Saddle to the hut by either route. [revised March 2019]
14.3 Ōtaki Forks to Penn Creek via the Gorge Track
This track is no longer recommended. It has suffered major slip damage above the Ōtaki Gorge, and also above Penn Ck. The slips above the Ōtaki are quite exposed. The attempt on this route by the insufficiently experienced has caused several SAR callouts. Some work, not by DOC, has recently cleared and marked the track, and provided ropes at exposed places, most essentially at the large slip in the stream draining the catchment between Tirotiro Knob and Table Top: the route on either side of this slip is clearly marked but the slip face is exposed with minimal footpad. [revised January 2020]
From the terrace above the swingbridge leading to Waitewaewae, a sign indicates 'Ōtaki River' and leads to the start of the sidle track which begins beyond a stone wall. Immediately inside the bush-edge a well-marked track branches down to grassy campsites on the TL riverbank. This track provides easy egress to the Ōtaki Forks carparks for appropriately-equipped travellers who have come down the Ōtaki Gorge, but it has deep pools both above and below it. [revised February 2019]
14.4 Ōtaki Forks to Penn Creek via the River Route
This route in the gorge proper between Ōtaki Forks and Penn Creek is usually taken downriver (see 14.11). Although the first author of this Guide said it is a 'pleasant journey on a summer day', it is not to be undertaken lightly. Confidence in deep river crossing is required, and the bed under the river is changeable and mostly bouldery. But the many crossings can usually in summer flow be forded without recourse to sidling. And the deep pools above Sawmill Flat can be bypassed. Four hours between the Forks and Penn Creek junction in either direction, and another 30 minutes to the hut.
The pools above the bridge can be bypassed in two ways:
By a track on the TR for the first kilometre. Cross the bridge as for Waitewaewae and climb to the edge of Sawmill Flat. At this point, where the Waitewaewae track begins to swing L, keep level and find a track through rata scrub and fern. In 100 metres or so, the benched bypass track will be found at the bush-edge. A few hundred metres along, the track drops to a grassy terrace. Down and across this, and back under trees near the western point of the terrace, find an old hut site and a track angling down R to the riverbed below.
By travelling along the old TL gorge sidle track till past the grassy terrace on the other side and nearly opposite the next TR side-stream, then dropping steeply through tangled bush to the river as convenient. At normal water, travel up the river is then a series of crossings (but see note above). The travel up the bed of Penn Creek is straightforward. [revised March 2019]
14.5 Ōtaki Forks to Field Hut
From the high terrace across the Waiotauru River from Boielle Flat, the Waitewaewae Track heads L and the track to Field Hut, Kime Hut and beyond heads R. Field Hut is 2½ – 3 hours from the Forks. Tirotiro Knob and the spur leading to it are visible from the pioneer cairn at the Forks.
From Boielle Flat, cross the Waiotauru swingbridge and follow the old tramline which swings L to reach the higher terrace. (Parawai Lodge, sleeps 18, is nestled out of sight on the R on the lower river flat.) Once on the high terrace proper, the track forks. The track for Field Hut and the Southern Tararuas turns R.
At the foot of the hill, pick up the graded track towards Field Hut, that climbs steeply for 20 minutes and then more gently along a grassy spur, to enter the bush about 45 minutes from the Boielle Flat bridge. The trail now drops slightly but soon rises again to eventually level out at a pronounced L bend, an hour from the Forks. Most of the tall trees on the forest spurs here were destroyed in the great 1936 storm, and some of their fallen trunks and root discs may still be seen. The trail beyond the bend undulates upwards, sidling L or R of the ridge, to reach the zig-zag before Tirotiro Knob. Soon Field Hut appears about 2½ – 3 hours from the Forks. [revised January 2019]
W. H. Field was a founding member of the Tararua Tramping Club and was MP for Ōtaki between 1900-1911 and 1914-1935.
The hut was constructed in 1924 from timber pit-sawn at the site, and much of the original material remains. Field Hut sleeps 20 and has water tanks and a toilet. A good selection of interpretative panels tell of this historic hut. Beyond Field Hut, Table Top (30 minutes) and Dennan (60 minutes) both provide excellent views of the central ranges – well worth the visit.
Field Hut
Field Hut
Field Hut is a Standard hut, located at -40.907847, 175.256212. It has 20 bunks with heating, mattresses, toilets - non-flush, water from tap - not treated, boil before use, and water supply. Bookings are not required, usage is first come, first served.Field Hut alert
Ōtaki Gorge Road closed to vehicles and pedestrians
Ōtaki Gorge Road is closed to vehicles and pedestrians due to a major slip. Camping is available at Boielles Campsite but for foot access only.
There is an emergency track that you can walk to gain access to Ōtaki Forks. It is 5 km long and can be accessed 200 m past the locked gate on the Ōtaki Gorge Road.
First published on 20 December 2022. Last reviewed on 2 October 2024.
14.6 Field Hut to Kime Hut
This route may quickly become BN grade in snow, storm or fog. Between Bridge Peak and Kime Hut the alpine meadows are very exposed and the trail can become indistinct. Storm gear must always be carried on any trip above the bushline. Field Hut to Kime Hut, 2½ – 3 hours.
From Field Hut the trail soon climbs out of the bush and sidles Table Top to gain the main ridge about 20 minutes above the hut. The track here has been reconstructed, and the easy going underfoot masks the often alpine nature of the climate. The track crosses alpine wetland and by-passes a deeply eroded section before climbing a zig-zag towards the sidle of Dennan, an hour from Field Hut. Beyond Dennan an undulating saddle gives way to a steeper zig-zag, then the exposed alpine meadows near Bridge Peak. The trail from here is marked by intermittent standards and cairns, but in snow or fog these may be difficult to follow. The route first heads S, then veers L over a mound, through a slight dip and up Hut Mound. At this top, swing gently R to descend the rutted slopes towards the always welcome sight of Kime Hut, about 2½ hours from Field Hut. [revised January 2019]
The original Kime Hut was also partly built from timber pit-sawn at the Field Hut site and carried by pack horse to Kime, hence the sidle tracks and the zig-zags somewhat atypical of trampers’ trails. The hut sleeps 20 or so and has water tanks and toilets. Water collected from tarns below the hut should be boiled before use. Do not pollute the upper tarns or use them for washing. This high hut may be cold – ensure you have sufficient clothing.
Down: From Kime Hut the trail first climbs Hut Mound behind the hut. Here it swings L at the top, drops through a small dip and, beyond the next rise, swings R towards Bridge Peak. The trail leaves the alpine meadows some 200 metres W of Bridge Peak and descends towards Field Hut and the Forks. Two hours or less to Field Hut. This route down is not further described. Make sure the Kime Hut door is well closed when you leave.
Kime Hut
Kime Hut
Kime Hut is a Standard hut, located at -40.942889, 175.271659. It has 20 bunks with mattresses, toilets - non-flush, water from tap - not treated, boil before use, and water supply. Bookings are not required, usage is first come, first served.Kime Hut alert
Ōtaki Gorge Road closed to vehicles and pedestrians
Ōtaki Gorge Road is closed to vehicles and pedestrians due to a major slip. Camping is available at Boielles Campsite but for foot access only.
There is an emergency track that you can walk to gain access to Ōtaki Forks. It is 5 km long and can be accessed 200 m past the locked gate on the Ōtaki Gorge Road.
First published on 20 December 2022. Last reviewed on 2 October 2024.
14.7 Ōtaki Forks to Pukeatua
This is a section of the Te Araroa Trail. 1.3 kilometres past the turn-off to Boielle Flat and the track to Field Hut, and 300 metres before the road-end and the Schoolhouse Flat camping ground, is the start of the Fenceline Walkway, beside a DOC information noticeboard. After 800 metres of gentle climb, the Pukeatua track branches off directly uphill. The top of the spur is 45 minutes from the carpark. Here turn L, and after 2 hours of undulating climb the cleared top of Pukeatua is reached. For the track beyond to the South Mangaone road-end, see 13.2. [revised July 2018]
Penn Creek vicinity
Penn Creek Hut is an ex-Forest Service hut and sleeps 6. The toilet has been re-located to the grass flats, a convenience for those camping there. The stream continues to nibble at the flats, and this hut may have to be moved a little. Stream-level grass flats are often a temporary feature, created as a flood-plain behind large slips. Other local examples include Mitre Flats, Avalanche Flats and Mangahao Flats.
Your best emergency exit from Penn Creek is out over the Table Top track.
Penn Creek Hut
Penn Creek Hut
Penn Creek Hut is a Standard hut, located at -40.90156, 175.286365. It has 6 bunks with heating, mattresses, toilets - non-flush, water from stream, and water supply. Bookings are not required, usage is first come, first served.
14.8 Penn Creek Hut to Pakihore Ridge
This major ridge leads to McIntosh on the Main Range and takes about 4 hours.
This ridge is sometimes used as an emergency route out from Maungahuka Hut. However, Penn Creek is difficult in heavy rain and the Ōtaki Gorge sidle track is now impracticable. From the tops the route out via Concertina Knob – Neill Forks – Totara Flats is longer but is much less exposed and has bridges across the major streams.
Up: Two minutes up-valley from Penn Creek Hut, the stream is reached and immediately crossed. The track will be picked up opposite, where it climbs river terraces then sidles upstream. This section is not well marked and can be difficult coming downhill. After 15 minutes it crosses a washout gully and now begins to climb, with an occasional zig-zag, until it reaches a spur-crest. This spur provides good travel with occasional windthrown evidence of the 1936 storm, and reaches the crest of Pakihore Ridge about 2½ hours from the hut.
From the knob junction of spur and ridge, this rather enjoyable and generally broad ridge gains height gradually and the bush-edge is reached in an hour. Less than 30 minutes of further climb through tussock brings the junction just N of McIntosh, where the Main Range bends to the NE.
Down: Where the Main Range bends NE just N of McIntosh, turn sharp WNW. The Pakihore Ridge leads easily down tussock to enter the bush on the SW face of the ridge. A few minutes inside the bush, a clearing with water offers a pleasant brew spot. The ridge is generally easy travel, with occasional discs. The knob where the spur branches off to Penn Creek is minor but obvious and is marked with an arrow – about 2 hours from McIntosh. A few minutes down-spur a little confusion may occur at a swampy saddle, again at places where the spur forks, and about two thirds of the way down watch for false trails on the R. At the washout gully, stick with the track, easily picked up again on the TR of the washout, and continue carefully through the overgrown bush till Penn Creek is reached. Cross it and the track will be picked up immediately, 2 minutes up from Penn Creek Hut.
14.9 Penn Creek to Vosseler
From Penn Creek Hut to the Main Range: 3 hours. An old culler route that does not make the list of 200 best-marked trails; BN fun downwards. Not a maintained track.
Up: The forks of Penn Creek are 10 minutes upstream from the hut, and the spur between is easily mounted. After several minutes on terraces the trail starts climbing. The spur is sometimes ill-defined, and even in the up direction the intermittent markers may be mislaid in the windfall areas. A sharp change of direction 90 minutes up signals that the bush-edge is half an hour distant. From the bush-edge there is a belt of untracked scrub, though threading through is not difficult. The scrub thins and a steep tussock spur leads to the Main Range.
Down: Ten minutes NE of Vosseler a cairn marks the turn-off from the Main Range. Below the steep tussock face, the route soon engages the scrub. There is no cut trail, but you may find marks L and R from predecessors. The bush is entered on the R in less than an hour. Fair going continues for about 30 minutes, where the spur makes a sudden swing from WNW as it drops to continue N. Thirty minutes down from here is an extended area of windthrow; only intermittent markers will be found on the spur, and overall it is less sharply defined than one might wish. Some of the better-rutted portions of the game trails address private destinations.
Once in the better bush clear of the windthrow, roughly 45 minutes should bring the stream forks. The penultimate section of track is over terraces. The hut is 10 minutes down from the forks. If the stream is high, the Table Top trail on the W may be picked up, a good 20 metres height above the stream.
14.10 Penn Creek Hut to Table Top
Up: Time – 2 hours. One minute above Penn Creek Hut are some extensive camping flats, and another minute brings the track to the stream-edge. Don't cross the stream. The track to Table Top climbs 20 metres R to a higher terrace and proceeds upstream. In 20 minutes a major side-stream is crossed and the spur to Table Top now climbs with resolve.
This spur, like many others in the region from Mangahao to Kapakapanui, has few mature trees – a tribute to the intensely destructive storm of 1936 – but the young forest is now flourishing. The bush-edge is reached 80 minutes from the spur-foot, and the main Southern Crossing track in another 40 minutes or so. The spur is less well defined towards the main ridge.
Down: The track turn-off is some 250 metres beyond the end of the flat section of track S of Table Top, and 30 to 40 minutes from Field Hut. It is marked by a DOC sign. It heads at right angles from the main track, to where an iron standard will be seen. The route then follows the spur for a little before dropping steeply R down a face to gain a small indistinct spur that improves as it leads to the valley. The trail is currently well padded but still needs close attention above the bush-edge in snow conditions or in heavy fog or rain. At the spur-foot the trail crosses a side-stream then traverses high TL terraces to the hut in 20 minutes.
The track down the TL of the Ōtaki River is dangerous – see 14.3. [revised January 2018]
14.11 Penn Creek Hut to Ōtaki Forks via River Route
Travel in the bed of Penn Creek is straightforward. But travel down the Ōtaki River is not to be undertaken lightly. Confidence in deep river crossing is required, and the bed under the river is changeable and mostly bouldery. Still, the many crossings can usually in summer flow be forded without recourse to sidling. And the deep pools above Sawmill Flat can be by-passed. The first of the impassable pools near the end of the gorge is obvious, and can be avoided on either the TR or the TL.
On the TR: once at the pool, look for an old track, starting near a clump of large boulders, up through trees to the terrace above. Cross the grass clearing to its far top corner and follow the old benched track along to the Waitewaewae track at Sawmill Flat.
On the TL: just before the pool, find a way up through steep tangled scrub to join the Penn Creek sidle track.
Those who can swim or float the pool will find a good track out on the TL a couple of hundred metres further on. [revised March 2019]
Waitewaewae Hut vicinity
Waitewaewae Hut
Waitewaewae Hut
Waitewaewae Hut is a Standard hut, located at -40.830943, 175.306219. It has 16 bunks with heating, mattresses, toilets - non-flush, water from tap - not treated, boil before use, and water supply. Bookings are not required, usage is first come, first served.Waitewaewae Hut alert
Ōtaki Gorge Road closed to vehicles and pedestrians
Ōtaki Gorge Road is closed to vehicles and pedestrians due to a major slip. Camping is available at Boielles Campsite but for foot access only.
There is an emergency track that you can walk to gain access to Ōtaki Forks. It is 5 km long and can be accessed 200 m past the locked gate on the Ōtaki Gorge Road.
First published on 20 December 2022. Last reviewed on 2 October 2024.
14.12 Waitewaewae Hut to Ōtaki Forks via the Plateau
Travel to Ōtaki Forks should take 5 hours or so. Thirty or forty minutes from the hut is the crossing of Arapito Creek, and two routes offer to this point: the riverside route, and the wet-weather sidle.
From Waitewaewae Hut the quickest route is to wade down the river until easier travel becomes available on the TR just before the slips. (It may be necessary to look up-river for your first crossing.) Pass under the slips to the Arapito, where discs on its TR mark the start of the route up the stream. This route, often in the stream-bed itself, joins the wet-weather sidle in 5 minutes or so.
The wet-weather sidle track, the alternative track from the hut to the Arapito, follows the terrace-edge down-valley for a few minutes, then strikes up a small spur. The climb continues quite high, to (almost) pass above the heads of the slip country, before turning S across several small streamlets to descend and cross the Arapito just below its major forks.
From the Arapito crossing the track is easily followed up the TR, sidling through branch creeks to gain the Plateau and eventually the crossings of Plateau Stream near the saddle, 70 to 90 minutes from the hut.
From the Plateau Saddle there is a choice of route: the new track which is well marked and safer, or the old route which in the opinion of some is more pleasant.
The new track wanders S over a flat area, rising, in 20 minutes, to its high point. It then sidles down for 2 hours to reach the old tramline.
The old route from Plateau Saddle drops down the crush-zone porridge to the headwaters of Saddle Creek and follows this down for 70 minutes to the tramline exit. This turn-off is marked by a cairn on the TL and an orange triangle. When found, the obvious track climbs on the TL, and past the traction engine (log hauler), it follows the bush tramline beyond. Past Papa Creek an active slip is avoided by dropping to the river below. Once past the foot of the slip, look for markers leading back up to the tramline when 20 minutes brings the junction with the new track. (If the river is running high, or during or after heavy rain when there is a risk of falling rocks, consider climbing around the top of the slip, even though there is currently no cut route through tangled bush at the very top.)
From the junction of the two routes, it is less than an hour to the Ōtaki Forks carpark.
An alternative to the tramline is to travel down the Waitatapia itself. Below the tramline exit in Saddle Creek a short gorge leads to the Waitatapia Stream. This stream-bed is then easy travel down to the Ōtaki Forks. (There is nice camping down Papa Creek towards the Waitatapia.)
At the Forks proper, the Ōtaki River can be forded at two places. A deep ford 50 metres down from the Waitatapia leads to a beach from where a track climbs to the road 70 metres down-valley from the pioneer cairn. The rough start of this track is by the last rock of the rockface on the TL of the river.
A shallower but more bouldery ford crosses the Ōtaki 50 metres above the Forks, to the Waiotauru TR corner opposite. It is then 500 metres up-valley to the Boielle Flat carpark. (There is a now little-used track to the road 250 metres up from the Forks.)
These crossings of the Ōtaki are only worth considering if the water is low and your party confident. Otherwise climb to Sawmill Flat and, keeping towards the Ōtaki edge of the terrace to avoid softer going, make your way up-stream to the footbridge. [revised March 2019]
14.13 Waitewaewae Hut – Oriwa Ridge
This route travels a ridge badly damaged in the 1936 storm, but now not so difficult. It is usually travelled in the Oriwa – Waitewaewae direction. Two common access routes are used for this direction: from Waiopehu through the low saddle to Oriwa; or up Makaretu Stream 17.1 and the spur directly to the old bivvy site at Lake Hollow. Essentially untracked, good bushcraft skills are needed to navigate the whole ridge. Up to 8 hours from Oriwa to Waitewaewae Hut and three hours from Waiopehu to Oriwa.
Waiopehu Hut to Oriwa Lake Hollow: Climb the track from Waiopehu Hut towards Waiopehu. Turn right when the track reaches the ridge and just before there is a tarn above the track.
The route has a footpad in places and is at times marked with flagging tape. The Oriwa Ridge starts here and drops to the immediate saddle, then south along a flattish bush ridge to the climb towards Oriwa. About 3 hours to Oriwa.
A trail cuts through the final scrub at Oriwa Lake Hollow to display the basin, water collector, and site of the old bivvy, 600 metres NNE of Oriwa. There is a good campsite on the west wide of the Oriwa Lake Hollow, and the route onwards to Oriwa can be discerned west of the campsite on the edge of the ridge. [January 2021]
For the route from the Makaretu, see 17.1.
The Oriwa Lakelet or tarn was present in 1905, but had 'recently drained' by 1928. The drainage sink is obvious not far behind the old bivvy site. Because of the inward drainage, ensure that toilet wastes are distant.
In the reverse direction, leaving the Hollow favour the east side of the ridge to avoid a misleading spur, and beware the blaze heading E to .1024 from .1015.
The earlier parts of the climb to Waiopehu may be easier just inside the Makaretu bush-edge than in the ‘open’ of the ridge proper.
Oriwa Lake Hollow to Waitewaewae Hut: From Oriwa Lake Hollow the route S leaves the end of the clearing and regains the ridge on the W and the minor bump Oriwa. Beyond the next saddle, Notoriwa provides a fair preview of the ridge farther down. There are no significant navigation difficulties in the next section, though the going may be testing at times.
Twenty years after the storm, this section was toilsome indeed but, almost 70 years on, much of the debris has rotted and the regrowth has thinned. There used to be high aerial traverses over jumbles of logs, alternating with strenuous muddy grovelling beneath them, but these athletic exercises are now (almost) eliminated.
About (Topo50 BN33 951 812) the ridge bifurcates and your compass work will need to be good to follow the spur right to the Waitewaewae – Ōtaki Forks.
In the uphill direction, no great problems present. Up to 8 hours to Oriwa.
14.14 Waitewaewae Hut to Junction Knob and Anderson Hut
Up: Allow 3 hours or more to Junction Knob. This is one of the steepest and most unrelenting climbs in the Tararuas. Up-river from the hut, cross the bridge and pick up the track where it leads L a little before swinging up the spur faces. The track is simple on the ascent apart from an unexpected jog to the R through a small gully just before the bush-edge. Above the bush the route is marked by cairns and an occasional standard until it regains the ridge towards Shoulder Knob. There is usually water near the saddle between Shoulder and Junction Knobs. Junction Knob is marked by a small cairn.
Another hour of straightforward going along the Main Range southwards will bring Anderson Memorial Hut. There are good views on the way of the seldom-visited headwaters of Kahiwiroa Stream, and a couple of ridge-top tarns to slake the thirst. (35 minutes northwards from Junction Knob will reach the flattish summit and iron tube of Crawford.)
Down: From Junction Knob the track drops through the saddle towards Shoulder Knob, which offers excellent views of the Plateau and Ōtaki Forks; about 30 minutes from the Main Range. From Shoulder Knob the track follows the ridge down for 3 minutes and, just past a jumble of rocks, swings L down to the basin on the S. Iron standards and cairns provide guidance over this section in fog. A small spur on the L develops and leads to an erosion gully that is eventually crossed to the R inside the bush-edge. The track descends a little, then re-crosses the gully back to the spur on the L, where it remains. From here down, the spur is without significant landmark apart from a couple of flat sections, reaching the river terraces 2–2½ hours or more from Junction Knob. Cross the bridge and turn down-valley to Waitewaewae Hut. [revised February 2019]
Anderson Memorial Hut
Anderson Memorial Hut
Anderson Memorial Hut is a Standard hut, located at -40.846474, 175.356018. It has 6 bunks with heating, mattresses, toilets - non-flush, water from tap - not treated, boil before use, and water supply. Bookings are not required, usage is first come, first served.
Waitewaewae headwaters
Overview: The main Waitewaewae branches, West and East, form a broad circle with Prout Stream bisecting. The junction of the two major branches of the Waitewaewae is Waitewaewae Forks. Island Forks is the junction of Prout Stream and the West Waitewaewae, so named for the conspicuous rock island at the junction. There are only a couple of minor tracks in the system, and the only hut, misleadingly named Island Forks Hut, is a two-bunker, with ample pleasant camping, on the TL of the East Waitewaewae a short distance up from the Waitewaewae Forks. Bushcraft skills are well-enjoyed in the furthest headwaters, and you need be quite sure which headwater you are entering.
River travel between Waitewaewae Forks and Waitewaewae Hut is straightforward, with occasional bush terraces and grass flats relieving shingle and boulder hop. Two hours between Island Forks and the Ōtaki – Waitewaewae Forks.
There are a number of routes to the W from the Waitewaewae basin. Mick has two old blazed routes to it: one from the grass flats and big slip below Chaney Creek (no longer named on the topo map). The route begins ESE of .975, but is seriously overgrown where it emerges into scrubland. The other starts from the headwater forks of Mick Stream. There is an established route along the main Tangata – Thompson Ridge with logging roads to the W off Thompson and Tangata, and a good track down from .860, N of Mick, to the Waitohu Stream. [revised January 2019]
Two peaks in the Tararuas are called Thompson, both about the same latitude, but you'd be unlucky to confuse them. In poor weather, there is no easy exit from the East Waitewaewae. From the West Waitewaewae there are the routes described above, and in 15.1 and 16.3.
14.15 West Waitewaewae
The usual entry is from the Waikawa over the low saddle at (Topo50 BN33 925 850), or down the old pack track on the spur from .828 SE of Thompson. (This round trip makes a satisfying day trip, see 16.6.) The river presents no problems, and Island Forks is less than 3 hours from the low saddle. [revised January 2019]
14.16 Prout Stream
Named after Ron Prout, seriously injured here in the 1950s, necessitating a four-day carry-out in a chilly autumn. Entered from Waitewaewae .939 or .969 (see 16.5) - choose a spur to the top forks to avoid rough gullies. The several minor falls and gorge normally give no grief to the experienced. Four hours or more from ridge to Island Forks. [revised January 2019]
14.17 East Waitewaewae (minor and major headwaters)
The minor headwater is usually entered from Makaretu Stream by the saddle W of Oriwa (see 17.2). The early part of the minor headwater is poor travel, with stream gutters and logs concealed in the high grass consequent on the storm. In this branch, one of the few campsites is NNE of .815, just up-valley of the low saddle.
The major headwater is entered from .969, 700 metres E of Waitewaewae .939. This major headwater is truly delightful in the upper reaches and, including several TR-sidled falls, provides simple travel. From its own lowest forks it enters the minor branch via a gloomy passage that is easily overlooked from the minor branch.
Travel from here down is dominantly gorge, with the pool below the one fall sidled on the TL, or swum from the TR. Camping is scarce till almost at the Waitewaewae Forks. Seven hours between .969 and Waitewaewae Forks; less for the minor branch from Makaretu Saddle. [revised January 2019]
Ōtaki River headwaters
The removal of the Oriwa Biv converted all the Upper Ōtaki into a remote experience area. The new Upper Otaki Hut (sleeps 2) is intended for scientific use, but is left open.
14.18 Ōtaki River, Butcher Saddle to Waitewaewae Hut
The headwater bend in the Ōtaki may be reached directly down the stream from Butcher Saddle, or down a marked spur between .810 and Te Matawai Hut. Butcher Saddle is 90 minutes up Butcher Creek from South Ohau Hut. About 2 hours in all by either route from South Ohau Hut to Ōtaki River. Sidle the falls in Butcher Creek on the TR.
From the headwater bend, the river travel is simple with swimming holes and camping flats as desired. A good 6 hours and many river crossings to Waitewaewae Hut – time will vary with party size and their river travel experience. Along this major fault alignment, new slips will occur from time to time. If the river is up, travel on the TL becomes increasingly easy, with a trail developing on the TL below the Upper-Ōtaki Hut. This may be followed to the bridge above Waitewaewae Hut. [revised January 2020]
14.19 Mid-Ōtaki to Kelleher and Main Range
Up: Thirty minutes above Kelleher Creek at the second major group of flats, the Upper-Ōtaki Hut is reached. From these flats head over the bush terraces to pick up the old track leading up the Kelleher spur. If coming down the Ōtaki, you can pick up this track from the spur foot opposite Murray Creek. (An old culler blaze also runs up the Murray Creek – Oriwa spur). At the bush-edge the track sometimes favours the S faces of the ridge to avoid bluffs and reaches Kelleher within 3 hours of the river. This track is neither well-padded nor well-marked. Kelleher lies W of the Main Range. Descending to the Main Range, the trail S drops sharply R into a gully from a small cairn. The trail N continues E for a further 50 metres or so before swinging N into the bush.
The top of Kelleher was burnt off as part of the search for the pioneer aviators Hood and Moncrieff who may yet be found.
Down: From Kelleher the trail follows down the spur, scrubby in the upper reaches, and once in the bush the going on the spur is good. At the bush terraces above the river the track, now less-defined, heads slightly downstream and over them to reach the river by the Upper-Ōtaki Hut. [revised January 2020]
14.20 Ōtaki Head Bend to Butcher Saddle
From the headwater bend in the Ōtaki River, follow up the creek draining Butcher Saddle, sidling the falls on the TR as necessary: 25–30 minutes to the saddle. [revised January 2020]
14.21 Ōtaki Head Bend to Te Matawai Hut
Any of the short spurs for a kilometre above the creek draining Butcher Saddle may be followed to the track above leading to Te Matawai Hut. There is a marked route down from halfway between .810 and Te Matawai Hut to the Ōtaki river.
14.22 Ōtaki Head Bend to Butcher Knob
The Ōtaki makes a sharp bend in its headwater just by the stream draining Butcher Saddle. From terraces on this bend head up the spur towards Butcher Knob. Excellent travel right to the main ridge, where the spur-top joins the Main Range in tussock on the last clear knob SW of Butcher Knob: 2 hours.
For the route down, leave the main ridge from the knob SW of Butcher Knob (the knob close to the bush-edge). Following this spur gives pleasant reward for modest navigation skills. [revised January 2020]
A pair of 'relatively recent' fault traces cross many of the spurs a few hundred metres above and to the SE of the main valley floor, paralleling the river, particularly from Kelleher Creek upvalley.
"I returned to my camp, on the 14th being 4 days without provisions, except, what I obtained, by thinning the ranks of a numerous, and destructive little animals, and to modify the name, I must call them Māori Rabbits."
Patrick Q Caples, a few days later, returning up-valley.
