Welcome!
Rimutaka Forest Park is a magnificent area of mostly native forest in the hills east of New Zealand's capital city, Wellington.
It encompasses the Rimutaka Ranges and the Orongorongo River, just north of the spectacular earthquake terraces and seal colony at the Turakirae Head Scientific Reserve.
The Park is characterised by steep, bush-clad hills and narrow fern-filled valleys cut by abundant freshwater streams and the beautiful Orongorongo River.
Throughout the park, there are many well-formed and signposted walking tracks appealing to bushwalkers and nature lovers of 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. (Download our flyer here...)
Our "Restore the Dawn Chorus" project is now in its 10th year and our "Kiwi Project" has produced a large number of beautiful baby kiwi chicks!
Upcoming Events...
Wainuiomata Water Walks
Sunday, 15th January, 2012
Our Wainuiomata Water Catchment neighbours to the west of the Rimutaka Forest Park run regular free walks through rarely-seen pristine native forest so you can learn more about where our top-grade Wellington water supply comes from AND enjoy first-hand the unsurpassed beauty of unspoiled New Zealand lowland native forests and the abundant wildlife it contains!
Book your place on a free guided Wainuiomata Water Walk here: (This link will take you to the Greater Wellington Regional Council's website for Wainuiomata Water Catchment Tours contact and booking purposes.)
The recently restored wetlands area adjacent to the caretaker's cottage at the Wainuiomata Water Works is a haven for aquatic wildfowl and native fish. (Click for a larger image)
Annual General Meeting
Our Annual General Meeting was held at the
Wainuiomata Library on Wednesday, 26th October, 2011.
The meeting went very well and the assembled members and other attendees were treated to a brilliant guest-speaker appearance by Dr. Andrea Byrom, who is an Animal Ecology Scientist at Landcare Research Ltd, Lincoln.
"Research activities in the Orongorongo Valley: the value of long-term research and pest control."
The former DSIR and now Landcare Research Ltd conduct several research activities on the forest ecosystem in the Orongorongo Valley. ‘The Valley’ is now one of the longest-running ecological research sites in the world, and by world standards it is very significant.
A question we often get asked is: “you’ve been doing this work for years – don’t we know how to kill pests yet?” This talk will provide an overview of recent research into the ecology and impacts of invasive mammals such as possums, rats and stoats in the Valley, and will also discuss the value of long-term pest control and research activities..
Click here for the latest RFPT Annual Report
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...)
Mike, Kevin, Lianne and Kelly hard at work serving customers at
our fund-raising sausage sizzle outside The Warehouse in Petone last
Sunday. The bacon "sammies" were in big demand and we had to send Melody
out to procure additional supplies of sausages and bacon twice!
(Click for a larger image.)
Sausage-sizzle fund-raiser
Sunday, 20th February, 2011 - Petone
Volunteers from the Trust manned a barbecue generously provided by The Warehouse, Petone, to craft tasty sausage and bacon sandwiches for shoppers. Kelly and Melody created a table display to inform interested passers-by about many of our activities in the Rimutaka Forest Park.
Wanted! - Hut Wardens -
Rimutaka Forest Park
The Opportunity:- Become a volunteer hut warden for one of the booked huts in the Orongorongo Valley, Rimutaka Forest Park.
Along with hut warden duties you will be given an
opportunity to
experience other conservation tasks. This may include bird counts, kiwi
recovery, track and facility maintenance, habitat restoration, weed
control, tree planting, and giving talks.
When:- The summer warden season runs from Labour weekend (late October) to Easter weekend (mid April).
Available positions:- Regular weekend wardens, as well as longer-term volunteers throughout the season.
Location:- The Huts are located throughout the Orongorongo Valley, approx. 40 min drive from central Wellington and 1.5hrs walk from the park entrance at Catchpool Valley.
View from Papatahi Hut
- Boar Inn (sleeps 4)
- Raukawa (sleeps 14)
- Jans (sleeps 9)
- Turere (sleeps 32)
- Haurangi (sleeps 10)
- Papatahi (sleeps 10)
For more detailed information and the application form, please visit this link at the Department of Conservation website:
Rimutaka Forest Park Hut Wardens
Sponsor a Trap
By sponsoring a trap for only $25 each you will not only Save Kiwi and other native birds, but also help with the:
- maintenance of traps
- supply of baits
- training and equipment for volunteer trappers
- monitoring and caring for the released kiwi
For more information and to Sponsor a Trap, click here...
Download the latest issue of our newsletter by clicking
here...
(Adobe Acrobat Reader required (PDF) approx 5.9mb)
DoC Hotline: 0800 362 468
(0800 DOCHOTline)
