The Warawara Forest Track
Whina Cooper referred to the Warawara in one of her speeches as “Te waima o te iwi o te Rarawa” - “The living spiritual being of the te Rarawa people.”
The forest covers an area of 12,376 acres of native bush with some very rugged hill country that has been saved because it is virtually inaccessible. In 1913 the Royal Commission recommended it should be set aside as a reserve.
Warawara is one of the largest kauri stands in the country, where kauri trees were tapped for gum. Kauri trees were also milled until logging ceased in 1974. The original logging road formed in the forest still exists, though it is becoming rather overgrown.
This walk may be accessed from either Mitimiti or Pawarenga. Beginning the walk from Pawarenga is easier, as a vehicle (4WD is preferable) can drive up Warawara Forest Road almost to the forest entrance, though the road quickly degenerates into a very rough track. It is very steep and offers a great view of the Whangape harbour far below. A locked gateway at the top prevents vehicles from entering the forest.
Should you decide to begin the walk from Mitimiti be prepared for a very long and steep hill climb!
The forest covers an area of 12,376 acres of native bush with some very rugged hill country that has been saved because it is virtually inaccessible. In 1913 the Royal Commission recommended it should be set aside as a reserve.
Warawara is one of the largest kauri stands in the country, where kauri trees were tapped for gum. Kauri trees were also milled until logging ceased in 1974. The original logging road formed in the forest still exists, though it is becoming rather overgrown.
This walk may be accessed from either Mitimiti or Pawarenga. Beginning the walk from Pawarenga is easier, as a vehicle (4WD is preferable) can drive up Warawara Forest Road almost to the forest entrance, though the road quickly degenerates into a very rough track. It is very steep and offers a great view of the Whangape harbour far below. A locked gateway at the top prevents vehicles from entering the forest.
Should you decide to begin the walk from Mitimiti be prepared for a very long and steep hill climb!
This photo was taken from a small plane flying north above Mitimiti beach.
WARAWARA FOREST TRACK
Direction from Pawarenga to Mitimiti
17/18th October 2012
Margaret & Tom Pasco
K Road Cottage, 5kms from Panguru, North Hokianga, was our base to walk the Warawara Forest Track. Here our welcoming hosts, Jill and Tiny, offer the service of drop-off and pick-up to walking tracks in their area which enabled us to enter the forest at the Pawarenga entrance and exit at Mitimiti on the coast. This direction meant we started at an elevated point and theoretically descended to the coast. The descent is in fact very steep and all completed in final couple of hours. We were pleased not to have had to make ascent carrying our fully loaded rucksacks here.
Jill drove her trusty RAV4 to Warawara Forest Road at Pawarenga and climbed as far as a wash-out which was within a ten minute walk of the DOC gate across the road. The time was 9.15am. We saw a shell of the giant NZ snail Powelliphanta along this stretch of road.
The forest road continues for 12 kilometres and becomes narrower by degrees as the rejuvenating trees became denser. After 3kms of gentle climbing we reached the rim of a huge crater like valley. A pair of Kereru was performing an aerial display below us and we glimpsed the Tasman Sea in the distance. We felt on top of the world but kept a safe distance from the edge.
Continuing on, the road leveled out making the walk a pleasant stroll through young kauri, rewarewa, and many varieties of native trees. Most spectacular of these were the Olearia, Clematis Paniculata, White Rata and Brachyglottis which were blooming in white profusion for kilometer after kilometer both along the track and on the surrounding forested hillsides.
Two hours walking at strolling pace later, we crossed a girder footbridge where a ford across the stream would allow four-wheel drive vehicles to cross. A further hour’s stroll brought us to a junction sign where we continued following the main forest road.
Our GPS registered 8 kilometres when we came across a clearing where possum hunters had set up camp. The camp was empty but for a possum caught in a trap awaiting its fate.
The road got narrower after the camp and young kauris became more numerous. The road became more track-like until at 10 kms there was a large clearing where the nearby Mt Maungapohatu (625m) could be appreciated looming above the plateau we had been following. The twists and turns of the forest road that showed on our GPS route matched our maps printed from www.walkingaccess.govt.nz website matched perfectly. We just hoped this would continue when we came to the end of the road and entered the sparsely marked tramping route section of the forest.
At 1330 hrs we rested for a lunchtime break feeling confident that we were prepared for the route-finding exercise ahead. Flowering Olearia completed this scene of wilderness bliss.
Just over 2 kms from this clearing we reached the end of the road and the end of the plateau. We now started to follow both the descents and ascents of the steep land. Grand old kauris appeared like majestic columns around which the track meandered.
Fallen trees disrupted the route, covering the signage and making progress very slow. This is typical of infrequently used tracks where route markers become overgrown or obscured by fallen vegetation. We reached Taikarawa stream where a landslip had demolished the track down to the crossing; an alternative route to the streambed had to be found. From the stream a steep climb brought us to the historical kauri slab hut. This last 2 kms from end of road to Kauri slab hut had been tough and taken us two hours. It was now 1700 hrs.
The kauri slab hut was built by loggers in the 1940s and since we were both also of the same vintage we decided to pitch our tent beside the old girl for the night. Having the hut to spread out our gear on the bunks and cook on the bench was luxury enough for us. Since the forecast was strong winds and heavy rain we thought our tent was superior to the holed roof of the hut for a dry night’s sleep. Sure enough the strong winds arrived after dark and could be heard roaring through the very tall trees above our tent but the fly sheet hardly rippled, we were so well protected by the giants of the forest.
No rain arrived until we had packed up our gear and had set off down the final steep leg of the route; only light raindrops found their way through the dense forest to our raingear.
The hut is at 350 metres above sea level and the distance to Mitimiti is just under 2 kms so the descent was severe in places. One reward for the slipping and sliding was seeing the Greenhooded orchids growing on the muddy track.
As the forest came to an end there was still a steep descent through stunted manuka standing at only half a metre high and in full bloom. Here views of the roaring Tasman Sea and the rugged west coast would have been very welcome, but today the strength of the wind was such that we could hardly stay upright and were glad of the fence that borders the route to hold on to. Wooden pole markers also mark the descent into Mitimiti.
Fortunately, mobile phone coverage returned before we reached the open descent to Mitimiti so we were able to text Jill to give her an hour and a half’s notice. This pick-up worked out very well and we were soon taking a hot shower back in K Road Cottage.
17/18th October 2012
Margaret & Tom Pasco
K Road Cottage, 5kms from Panguru, North Hokianga, was our base to walk the Warawara Forest Track. Here our welcoming hosts, Jill and Tiny, offer the service of drop-off and pick-up to walking tracks in their area which enabled us to enter the forest at the Pawarenga entrance and exit at Mitimiti on the coast. This direction meant we started at an elevated point and theoretically descended to the coast. The descent is in fact very steep and all completed in final couple of hours. We were pleased not to have had to make ascent carrying our fully loaded rucksacks here.
Jill drove her trusty RAV4 to Warawara Forest Road at Pawarenga and climbed as far as a wash-out which was within a ten minute walk of the DOC gate across the road. The time was 9.15am. We saw a shell of the giant NZ snail Powelliphanta along this stretch of road.
The forest road continues for 12 kilometres and becomes narrower by degrees as the rejuvenating trees became denser. After 3kms of gentle climbing we reached the rim of a huge crater like valley. A pair of Kereru was performing an aerial display below us and we glimpsed the Tasman Sea in the distance. We felt on top of the world but kept a safe distance from the edge.
Continuing on, the road leveled out making the walk a pleasant stroll through young kauri, rewarewa, and many varieties of native trees. Most spectacular of these were the Olearia, Clematis Paniculata, White Rata and Brachyglottis which were blooming in white profusion for kilometer after kilometer both along the track and on the surrounding forested hillsides.
Two hours walking at strolling pace later, we crossed a girder footbridge where a ford across the stream would allow four-wheel drive vehicles to cross. A further hour’s stroll brought us to a junction sign where we continued following the main forest road.
Our GPS registered 8 kilometres when we came across a clearing where possum hunters had set up camp. The camp was empty but for a possum caught in a trap awaiting its fate.
The road got narrower after the camp and young kauris became more numerous. The road became more track-like until at 10 kms there was a large clearing where the nearby Mt Maungapohatu (625m) could be appreciated looming above the plateau we had been following. The twists and turns of the forest road that showed on our GPS route matched our maps printed from www.walkingaccess.govt.nz website matched perfectly. We just hoped this would continue when we came to the end of the road and entered the sparsely marked tramping route section of the forest.
At 1330 hrs we rested for a lunchtime break feeling confident that we were prepared for the route-finding exercise ahead. Flowering Olearia completed this scene of wilderness bliss.
Just over 2 kms from this clearing we reached the end of the road and the end of the plateau. We now started to follow both the descents and ascents of the steep land. Grand old kauris appeared like majestic columns around which the track meandered.
Fallen trees disrupted the route, covering the signage and making progress very slow. This is typical of infrequently used tracks where route markers become overgrown or obscured by fallen vegetation. We reached Taikarawa stream where a landslip had demolished the track down to the crossing; an alternative route to the streambed had to be found. From the stream a steep climb brought us to the historical kauri slab hut. This last 2 kms from end of road to Kauri slab hut had been tough and taken us two hours. It was now 1700 hrs.
The kauri slab hut was built by loggers in the 1940s and since we were both also of the same vintage we decided to pitch our tent beside the old girl for the night. Having the hut to spread out our gear on the bunks and cook on the bench was luxury enough for us. Since the forecast was strong winds and heavy rain we thought our tent was superior to the holed roof of the hut for a dry night’s sleep. Sure enough the strong winds arrived after dark and could be heard roaring through the very tall trees above our tent but the fly sheet hardly rippled, we were so well protected by the giants of the forest.
No rain arrived until we had packed up our gear and had set off down the final steep leg of the route; only light raindrops found their way through the dense forest to our raingear.
The hut is at 350 metres above sea level and the distance to Mitimiti is just under 2 kms so the descent was severe in places. One reward for the slipping and sliding was seeing the Greenhooded orchids growing on the muddy track.
As the forest came to an end there was still a steep descent through stunted manuka standing at only half a metre high and in full bloom. Here views of the roaring Tasman Sea and the rugged west coast would have been very welcome, but today the strength of the wind was such that we could hardly stay upright and were glad of the fence that borders the route to hold on to. Wooden pole markers also mark the descent into Mitimiti.
Fortunately, mobile phone coverage returned before we reached the open descent to Mitimiti so we were able to text Jill to give her an hour and a half’s notice. This pick-up worked out very well and we were soon taking a hot shower back in K Road Cottage.