Ohura

A modern New Zealand country lifestyle

Moki Track—5 hour hike

This track is located 68km north of New Plymouth via Uruti/Moki/Kiwi Rds. or 81 km north of New Plymouth via Ahititi/SH40/Kiwi Rds. The scenic Moki and Kiwi Rds are narrow and unsealed and historically significant They were made around 1910 by road workers using wheel barrows. picks and shovels.

The Moki Rd was originally a pack trail from Uruti to Tahora. The Rerekapa track starts at Kiwi Rd and crosses open farmland, through two gates, then turns left across Blacketts Creek.
The track skirts the base of the ridge and winds to the top of a low saddle, then down through undisturbed tawal kamahi forest into the valley. There have been sightings of kokako in this area.
The Boys Brigade hut is 1 hr from Kiwi Rd, at the head of the valley. Past the hut on the left are the headwaters of the Waitara River.

The track reaches a boundary fence and crosses the Irwin farm. following the fence line to a former homestead site and the 10m high Rerekapa Falls (2hrs 45mins from the Kiwi Rd).
Beyond the farm buildings the track re­-enters the Moki Forest which, on this section of the track, has been logged but not cleared. The track finally emerges opposite the picnic area on the Mangapapa Rd, which links Moki and Okau Rds and is part of the historic Stratford/Taumarunui Heritage trail.
Toilets, a barbecue and camping area are located in a clearing a few metres off the Mangapapa Rd. The clearing is easily accessible by car and the Rerekapa Falls are only 1 hr from this point Either arrange to have a car waiting at Mangapapa Rd, or return to Kiwi Rd (3.5hrs).

This track is located 65kms north of New Plymouth via Uruti Rd. It links the eastern and westem ends of the unformed Moki Road. Access to the western end of the track is from the north side of Moki Rd/Waitara River bridge.
The eastern end of the track starts at the end of the formed Moki Rd, south of the airstrip on farmland. Gates should be left as found and stock undisturbed.

The track goes through Makino Conservation Area, generally following the south bank of the upper Waitara River. The track began as a surveyed road alignment that was to be developed to service the rehabilitation farms of soldiers after the first Wor1d War. Three farms were established in the valley; the remains of two homesteads can be seen along the eastern end of the track. Land that was cleared is now regenerating. The track follows generally easy grades and is levelled along most of its 18km length. This work was done with wheelbarrows, picks and shovels as ear1y as 1910.

The terrain is rough and suspension bridges cross five of the deeper chasms. Both ends of the track pass through some 3km of farmland before entering the forest which contains good stands of tawa, kamahi and rimu. A return trip is necessary, unless prior transport arrangements have been made.

Rerekapa Track 3—4 hour hike