Tararua Forest Park


Tararua Forest Park is a protected area in the southern North Island of New Zealand. Covering, it was established in 1954 and was the first of New Zealand's forest parks. The highest peak is Mitre, at 1571 m above sea level.
The park covers over three-quarters of the Tararua Range, a rugged mountain chain forming part of the North Island’s main ranges. It is administered by the Department of Conservation.

History

The Tararua Range has long been significant for Māori. The mountains were part of traditional travel routes between the Wairarapa and Kāpiti Coast, and the rivers provided food sources such as tuna. The area was heavily logged for timber from the late 19th century until protection measures were introduced.
In 1954, Tararua Forest Park was gazetted as New Zealand’s first forest park, intended to provide for both conservation and recreation. Since then it has become a centre of tramping culture, with the Tararua Tramping Club playing a central role in exploring and maintaining tracks and huts.

Biodiversity

The park supports diverse ecosystems, from lowland podocarp-broadleaf forest to alpine tussock tops. Common canopy trees include rimu, rātā, kāmahi and tawa, with beech forest dominating higher elevations. The alpine zone features tussocks, leatherwood and alpine herbs.
Native birds include kākā, kererū, fantail, rifleman, tomtit, kākāriki, and tūī. Introduced mammals such as deer, goats, stoats and rats have long posed threats, leading to predator control programmes. Streams and rivers provide habitat for native fish, including longfin eel and kōaro.

Project Kākā

Project Kākā, launched by DOC in 2010, aimed to reduce numbers of rats, stoats and possums over 22,000 ha of the park. Pests were controlled through aerial application of 1080 poison, trapping and monitoring. The goal was to restore native species including kākā, kākāriki, and kererū.
Monitoring showed that the programme increased bird populations, including bellbird, tūī, kākāriki, rifleman and whitehead. However, research also showed that rat populations could recover within 30 months of poisoning.

Activities

The park is a popular destination for outdoor recreation. It is one of the most heavily used tramping areas in New Zealand, alongside Tongariro National Park and the Southern Alps.
Activities include:

Camping

Camping is permitted in many areas of Tararua Forest Park. Popular road-end campsites include:
  • Holdsworth – near Masterton, gateway to the eastern Tararuas
  • Kiriwhakapapa – small campsite among redwoods
  • Waiohine Gorge – riverside camping with access to swingbridge
  • Ōtaki Forks – traditionally a major campsite, though road access has been closed since 2021 due to slips
Backcountry camping is allowed almost anywhere, provided Leave No Trace principles are followed.

Tramping

Tramping is popular in the Tararua Forest Park. Tramping clubs in the Wellington region, including the Tararua Tramping Club, the Wellington Tramping and Mountaineering Club and the Hutt Valley Tramping Club had a key role in originally establishing the network of huts and shelters. These huts are an essential refuge for trampers in the Tararuas’ severe weather. Field Hut, constructed in 1924 by the Tararua Tramping Club, is the oldest surviving recreational hut in the Tararuas and is recognised for its heritage value.
The park now contains over 50 official huts and bivouac shelters, forming one of the most extensive backcountry hut networks in New Zealand. These shelters vary greatly in size and facilities, ranging from small two-bunk bivvies tucked into remote alpine valleys to large serviced lodges on high-use tracks. Huts are categorised by the Department of Conservation as 'Serviced Huts', 'Standard Huts', or 'Basic Huts/Bivvies'.

Popular routes

Southern Crossing

The Southern Crossing is a classic two- to three-day traverse, typically from Ōtaki Forks to Kaitoke. It crosses alpine tops including Mount Hector. In fine conditions there are wide views of Wellington Harbour, Marlborough Sounds and the Kaikōura Ranges.

Schormann–Kaitoke

The Schormann–Kaitoke is an 80 km traverse of the main range, with up to 8,000 m of elevation change. It is considered one of New Zealand’s toughest classic tramps. Some elite trampers and runners attempt it in under 48 hours, though most take 5–8 days.

Other routes

Other popular tracks include:
  • Holdsworth–Jumbo Circuit – a 2–3 day alpine loop in the eastern Tararuas
  • Powell Hut track – one of the most accessible routes to alpine tops
  • Ōtaki Forks to Poads Road – offering views of Kapiti Island
  • Mitre Peak – the highest summit, usually climbed from Mitre Flats
  • Southern Main Range Circuit – A circuit that follows the southern main range, 4-5 days from Ōtaki Forks

Weather

The Tararuas are notorious for severe and unpredictable weather.
  • Rainfall – some slopes receive over 5,000 mm annually.
  • Wind – gale-force northwesterlies frequently batter exposed tops.
  • Snow and ice – common in winter and early spring above 1200 m.
Cloud and poor visibility often make navigation hazardous. Many accidents have occurred due to hypothermia, exhaustion, or losing the route in bad weather. Trampers are advised to carry maps, compasses or GPS, and be prepared for sudden changes.

Access

Tararua Forest Park is accessible from both the Wairarapa and Kāpiti/Horowhenua. Main road ends include:
  • Holdsworth
  • Kiriwhakapapa
  • Waiohine Gorge
  • Ōtaki Forks
  • Poads Road
  • Kaitoke

Works cited

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