Tongariro forest - great for recreation

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 10, Issue 449, 18 August 1992, Page 4

Tongariro forest - great for recreation

This is the fourth of a series of articles written about Tongariro Forest by Conservation Officer lan Goodison of Whakapapa. The logging days have left a legacy of old roads, tram routes, hauler tracks and bulldozed routes over much of Tongariro Forest, which serve today as access routes for many forms of recreation. Hunting has traditionally been the most popular human activity in Tongariro Forest. Many local people have carried out a good red stag head or brought home venison and wild pork for the freezer. Hunters from outside the area are becoming more common, from as far away as Auckland and Wellington. The area offers good access, good conditions in the bush and deer generally in good condition. Other activities are on the increase. Trail-bikes, four-wheel bikes and four-wheel drive vehicles have always been popu-

lar with hunters as a means of access, but we are now seeing more of these off-road vehicles being used purely for sport, with enthusiast' groups and clubs coming from all over the North Island. A consequence of this increased use is accelerated erosion on the track surfaces, especially from the heavier fourwheel drive vehicles. Mountain-biking is a relatively new sport which is superbly catered for in Tongariro Forest with its network of logging trails. The trip from Taurewa through to Owhango was recently described as the best one-day ride in the North Island and consequently numbers of bikers have increased dramatically. There are many other great rides of varied difficulty and distances to suit all levels of experience, but one pitfall for the unwary is that none of the routes are signposted, so we strongly recommend that

those unfamiliar with the area go with someone who knows the way. Campsites with toilets and fireplaces are situated at the Okupata area on Pukehinau Rd and the Ohine tonga area on Dominion Rd. These are available free of charge. Only dead wood may be used for fires and all rubbish must be removed and taken away. More and more school parties are visiting the limestone caves at Okupata and Pukehinau. These cave systems offer a great opportunity for an underground experience complete with glow-worms and wetas. Horse-back riding is another form of recreation which is currently permitted in Tongariro Forest. Horses can comfortably access the tracks which are too overgrown or rough for motorised vehicles. There is a price to be paid for increased public use of Tongariro Forest. Increased use often

causes increased impact on resources and facilities. In my first article I mentioned the guiding principle of the Conservation Act which states that we must manage conservation areas so that natural and historic resources are protected. Conservation Parks are in addition managed to facilitate public recreation and enjoyment, provided that natural and historic resources are not compromised. Impacts on natural resources are already happening such as graffiti carved into the limestone of the Okupata Caves, illegal removal of firewood and protected species from the bush and fires lit to make clearings to encourage deer grazing and make them easier to shoot. There are also conflicts of use. Heavy fourwheel drive vehicles can cause serious damage to track surfaces, accelerating water damage and

making access more difficult for mountain-bikes and motor-bikes. It also makes maintenance more expensive and difficult. Speeding vehicles can cause collisions on narrow tracks with poor visibility. Motorised vehicles can conflict with horse and bicycle-riders who regard peace, tranquillity and lack of unnatural noise as part of their desired experience. One of our greatest challenges during the

next few years will be to work out ways and means of protecting the natural resources while facilitating public enjoyment through the provision of adequate facilities. One factor which limits development of facilities such as roads and tracks is the amount of resources needed to maintain them in the future. To resolve conflict it may become necessary to separate different types of transport, or to prohibit some types of ve-

hicles from parts or all of the forest. The ways and means will be broadly defined in the Conservation Management Strategy and subsequently with more detail in the Management Plan for the Tongariro Forest Conservation Park. The Dept of Conservation will produce these documents in consultation with the general public and with Iwi, sporting and recreational groups, conservation organisations and any other interested bodies. This is important so that the community and users have a say in the way that the area is managed. When complete it will provide guidelines for us, the managers and guardians of the area. In the interim until the management plan is produced, we are managing the area conservatively by maintaining existing facilities where possible and focusing on the protection and enhancement of natural resources.