Mountain Road walks

Ruapehu Bulletin, 21 December 1993, Page 2 (Supplement)

Mountain Road walks

□ Mangawhero Forest walk and Rimu Track (3km round trip which takes around 1 1/2 hours.) The Rimu Track begins opposite the Ohakune Ranger Station at the bottom of the Ohakune Mountain Road, as a separate loop off the main Mangawhero Forest Walk. The track allows access for wheelchairs and pushchairs. The walk begins by crossing the Mangawhero River: the river starts high up Mt Ruapehu and descends over two giant waterfalls, following a faultline down the mountain until eventually joining the

Whangaehu River. The 15-minute Rimu Track, meanderingthrough an understorey of ground ferns and kamahi, crisscrosses a quiet mountain stream. □ Old Blyth Track (45 hours round trip.) The track begins 7km past the Ohakune Ranger Station. Following part of the historic route up Mt Ruapehu, the track climbs gradually through one of the few red beech stands in the park, working its way through native stands until it crosses the W ai tonga Falls Track. For the retum it is necessary to retrace your

steps or walk back down the Mt Road. □ Mangawhero Falls (5-10 minutes return.) This popular short walk begins on the Ohakune Mt Road, 13km past the Ohakune Ranger Station. Not far below the bushline and a stones throw from the road, this breath-taking waterfall plunges 1300m. Spectacular icicles form around the falls in winter. □ Waitonga Falls (1 hourand lOminutes retum.) Beginning on the Mt Road, 11km past the Ohakune Ranger Station. The Waitonga Falls are reached via a well-graded track through mountain beech and cedar forest. Past Waitonga Falls, the track continues as part of the Around the Mountain track, a three to five day tramp around Mt Ruapehu. □ Lake Surprise (five hours return,) Beginning 15km along the Ohakune Mt Road. The track descends into Mangaturuturu Valley. Waterfalls and bluffs complement the back-drop of Mt Ruapehu. The Mangaturuturu River is forded shortly after passing the Mangaturuturu Hut, 1 hour 30 minutes from the road. Lake Surprise is reached after a steady climb from the river valley. □ Lake Rotokura (1 1/ 2 hours retum.) Signposted from SH49, 12km from Ohakune en route to W aiouru. Dri ve one kilometre from the tum-off along Karioi Station Road, cross the railway line and continue to Rotokura carpark. A popular picnic spot with locals. The first lake, called Dry Lake, is manmade. The second, Rotokura, is natural and is believed to have some form of underground corinection with Mt Ruapehu. The area abounds with birdlife: trout fishing is a popular sport on Turn to Page 3

Mountain Rd walks

From Page 2 both lakes and trout are introduced regularly. □ Rangataua Conservation Area and Tongariro/Erua Forest Parks Rangataua Conservation Area is situated on the southem boundary of Tongariro National Park to the east of Ohakune. Mountain biking is permitted along the disused logging tracks. Erua and T ongariro Forest Parks are also good locations for biking, hunting and tramping, also using old logging tracks as access.