Summary of vegetation, altitudes, and tracks

Forest and Bird, Volume 14, Issue 5, 1 February 1983, Page 2

Summary of vegetation, altitudes, and tracks

Vegetation zones between the Whakapapanui and Whakapapaiti Streams Lower shrub land: Up to 950 (Tawhai Falls) and 980 m (State Highway 48). Beech forest: From park boundary (870 to 880 m) and 950 to 980 m up to 1200 to 1280 m (broken by bog clearings). Tussock: From 1200 to 1280 m up to 1350 to 1400 m. Gravel field: Above 1350 to 1400 m Significant altitudes Entry to park: 870 m. Park headquarters: 1125 m. Tracks* Near park entry Track 1 — Lahar Mounds: 5 km below headquarters; 15 minutes return; 930 m. Track 2- Tawhai Falls: 4 km below headquarters; 40 minutes return; 950 m. Around park headquarters Track 3 — Ridge Track: 150 m above headquarters; 40 minutes return; 1140 to 1189 m. Track 4 — Taranaki Falls: Turn-off 150 m below headquarters; 2% hours round trip; 1130 m (start and finish), with maximum of 1220 m. To Whakapapaiti (from Whakapapanui bridge, turn-off 250 m above headquarters) Track 5 — Whakapapanui: 112 hours one way, plus 2.5 km of road; 1130 to 1000 m. Track 6 — Silica Rapids: 22 hours return to road, plus 2.5 km of road; 1130 to 1260 m, maximum 1320 m. Track 7 — Whakapapaiti: 5 hours return to road, plus 4.5 km of road; 1460 to 1130 m. vs track- Bruce Road to hut: 2 hours; 1460 to 1260 m, maximum m. Lower track-Lower stream crossing to bridge: 2% hours; 1120 to 1130 m, maximum 1225 m. "Distances are from park headquarters, and altitudes are those at start and finish.