Kiriwhakapapa
Name |
Kiriwhakapapa |
Location |
Masterton |
Co-ordinates |
1814799 5479424 |
Alternative co-ordinates |
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Configuration |
Network |
Distance |
40 km |
Status |
Off-leash (on-leash in farmed areas) |
Grade |
Easy-moderate |
Access |
Take Kiriwhakapapa Road off SH2 about 16 km north of Masterton, and continue to the end of the road (the last 5 km is gravel). Walks start from the DoC campsite. Alternatively, access Ruamahanga River track at end of Ruamahanga Gorge Road. |
Description |
The Kiriwhakapapa campsite provides access to some wonderful dog-friendly (off-leash) walks in the eastern Tararuas. For short walks, take the loop along the beginning section of the Old Tram Track, or the lower section of the Blue Range Hut track. On both of these, you're in some beautiful bushland, with majestic conifers (yes conifers can be majestic as long as they aren't the rubbishy radiata pine that scar much of our landscape), beech, kaihakatea, totara and lesser trees and shrubs, and rock-strewn streams where the dogs love to paddle. While the views down at this level are limited, the bellbirds, tui and Australasian magpie make the trees ring with music as you walk along. For longer walks just pursue either of these tracks, though note that Old Tram Track is somewhat misnamed, for it's quite rough, narrow and steep in places - and it's inpossible to imagine any sort of tram ever using it. The Blue Range Hut track also starts deceptively easy as it wanders beside the stream, but then gets serious as it strikesdeterminedly uphill to a clearing and the eponymous (and bright blue) hut. From there, though, the world is your oyster as the tracks run on, west up to Arete Forks, south down the Waingawa River into the Holdsworth area or north and east into the Ruamahanga Gorge. There's something here for everyone. |
Connecting tracks |
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Further information |