Remutaka Forest Park

The Remutaka Forest Park is popular with trampers and hunters and covers 220sq kms and is a protected area in Wellington, New Zealand. The two popular access points are the Hutt Valley and South Wainuiomata which are a 45-minute drive from Wellington city. The park features several walking and tramping tracks and six different huts. This conserved area is a great place for outdoor experiences like camping and challenging hikes. Catchpool Valley is a popular recreational area here and is suitable for all fitness levels and ages. There is a campground and motorhome site here for people who want to stay overnight in the wilderness.

This is a great area to spot native birds like tui, kiwis, bellbirds, ruru and kaka kereru as well as other animals like possums, red deer, goats and pigs. You can engage in recreational hunting in specific areas. The most popular walk is the Oromgorongo Track which is a 10km return track and is graded as moderately challenging. It begins at the Catchpool Campsite and you can view stunning beech trees and towering northern rata. You can cool off at the Turere Stream at the end of the trail or explore the valley.

The Remutaka Rail Trail was built in 1978 is also a popular trail. It is an 18km return walk which you can also mountain bike and it provides opportunities for swimming, fishing and camping. It is graded as easy and takes 4.5 hours to complete and the access point is from Upper Hutt. There is another short walk for children called the Nga Toonga Nature Walk. It passes Catchpool Stream and is a great place for children to learn plant names. You can view stunning ferns, nikau palms, tawa trees and kamahi which are all labeled with plaques. There are many picnic spots and the park is popular for school trips.