Welcome!
Rimutaka Forest Park is a beautiful area of mostly native forest in the hills between the Hutt Valley and Western Wairarapa, encompassing the Rimutaka Ranges and the headwaters of the Wainuiomata and Orongorongo Rivers, just east of New Zealand's capital city, Wellington.
It is characterised by steep, bush-clad hills and narrow fern-filled valleys cut by abundant freshwater creeks and streams.
Throughout the park, there are many well-formed and signposted walking tracks appealing to bushwalkers of almost every age and state of fitness.
The park is easily accessed by road from Wellington or Lower Hutt. Simply take the hill road to Wainuiomata and follow all the signs to the Coast Road/ Rimutaka Forest Park and then turn left at the Catchpool Stream access road into the Park. (See Map)
The Rimutaka Forest Park Charitable Trust is committed to preserve and restore the natural and historic resources of the Rimutaka Forest Park valleys and environs... (More)
It has been active in bringing about many improvements to the Park and the Catchpool Stream picnic area and camping grounds.
Our "Restore the Dawn Chorus" project is now in its 8th year and our "Kiwi Project" has produced eight beautiful baby kiwi chicks!
Kiwi chick RFP7 is provided with solid food for the first time during 2008. Now much bigger, he is learning to fend for himself and is putting on weight ahead of his repatriation to the Rimutaka Forest Park.
Sponsor a Kiwi Chick
If you - or your company - would like to give a kiwi chick like RFP7 a better name, then perhaps you could sponsor him or her during the first couple of years of their lives?
Check out the many other benefits of kiwi chick sponsorship here...
Dawn Chorus & Kiwi Projects
Help protect our native wildlife and plants and keep fit doing so! We need some additional volunteers for our Rimutaka Forest Park Dawn Chorus Project and our Kiwi Project. (More...)
Why not join us?
New members are always welcome! We have many different and interesting roles to fill for keen volunteers. Learning opportunities abound and you'll enjoy the company of many great characters among our existing members! Perhaps you have some specialist skills that you'd like to contribute to assist us in attaining our long-term goals and objectives? If so, please complete the Membership Application Form here... and send it in to the Membership Secretary by mail or email. (For address details, click here...)
Kiwi Spy
What's hidden down there in that deep, dark burrow? Here's a really good way to reveal all!
Read all about Alan Thompson's Kiwi Spy device here:
