Whirinaki Forest Easter Weekend 
Depart 8.00am Friday 29th March
Return Monday 1st April
Aim is return between 8 and 9pm depending on stops & traffic.
Cost: $125 - $50 deposit on booking please
The Whirinaki Forest is a temperate rain forest in the central North Island, just to the west of the better-known Urewera National Park. It has been described as “the most visually superb remnants in New Zealand, with podocarps up to 65 meters tall and reaching three meters in diameter” and British biologist David Bellamy regarded it as one of the great forests of the world. The area is rich in bird life including kaka, whio and kiwi.
Leaving Como Street carpark at 8am Friday morning to River Road Carpark (driver will drop off all parties at River Road, taking the bus to and getting dropped back from Jailhouse Shuttles).
Party Details - Tents are required 
Medium Parties (A & B) Mangamate Loop Track with an overnight extension to Upper Whirinaki Hut. Mangamate Loop Track (doc.govt.nz)
Both parties walk the same route, doing the loop in opposite directions, starting and ending at the River Road Carpark. We meet up at the Upper Whirinaki Hut on Saturday night.
MEDIUM PARTY A
Friday: Walk to Verns Camp; Approx. 2.5 hours.
No hut, good camping facilities with a covered cooking area with seating and a fireplace. Verns conservation campsite: Whirinaki Te Pua-a-Tane Conservation Park, East Coast region (doc.govt.nz)
Saturday: Walk to Upper Whirinaki Hut; 9 bunks – 1 x std blue ticket. Approx. 5-6 hours
Explore the nearby caves in the afternoon or the next morning.
Sunday: Walk to Mangamate Hut; 9 bunks – 1 x std blue ticket. Approx. 4 ½ hours
Check out the glowworms at night.
Monday: Walk to River Road Carpark; Approx. 10km, 4 hours.
MEDIUM PARTY B
Friday: Walk to Mangamate Hut; 9 bunks – 1 x std blue ticket. Approx. 10 km, 4 ½ hours
Check out the glowworms at night.
Saturday: Walk to Upper Whirinaki Hut; 9 bunks – 1 x std blue ticket. Approx. 8km, 4-5 hours
Explore the nearby caves in the afternoon or before heading out the next morning. Lower Whirinaki Track to cave: 50 minutes (allow 30 minutes to explore the cave).
Sunday: Walk to Verns Camp; Approx 6 hours.
No hut, good camping facilities with a covered cooking area with seating and a fireplace. Verns conservation campsite: Whirinaki Te Pua-a-Tane Conservation Park, East Coast region (doc.govt.nz)
Monday: Walk to River Road Carpark. Approx. 2.5 hours).
If time permits, explore the Waiatiu Falls Waterfall Track ( 3.2km, 1 ½ hours return), or the Arohaki Lagoon Track (6km; 3 hours return).
FIT PARTY – Moerangi Track. This trip allows for the option of pushing out days 2 and 3 if desired.
Moerangi Track: Whirinaki Te Pua-a-Tāne Conservation Park, East Coast region (doc.govt.nz)
Friday: Walk to Moerangi Hut; 6 bunks – 1 x std blue ticket. Approx. 13 km, 4-5 hours.
Saturday: Walk to Mangakahika Hut; 9 bunks – 1 x std blue ticket. 17km, 6 ½ hours.
OR continue on to Central Te Hoe Hut; 15 bunks – 1 x std blue ticket. Additional 7.6km, 3 hours.
Sunday: Returning back along yesterday’s track, to Rogers Hut; 6 bunks – 1 x std blue ticket.
OR continue on to Skips Hut; 9 bunks – 1 x std blue ticket.
Monday: Walk to Okahu Road End**
Rogers Hut to Okahu Rd end; 13km, 3. ½ hours
Skips Hut to Okahu Rd end; 7km, 2hrs
**If no driver on Fit Party bus, start at Okahu, finish at River Road.
We will aim to get back to Como Street between 8 and 9pm depending on stops and traffic.
All parties will need to carry tents as huts are all First In, First Served
Fit Party - 3 x blue hut tickets
Medium Parties - 2 x blue tickets
Warm clothing WILL be required.
Cost: $125 (plus hut tickets as above)
Organiser: Amber Gladwin 027 838 9483
Drivers:
Maps: Medium Party A Online/GPS/Printable
Medium Party B: Online/GPS/Printable
Fit Party:Online/GPS/Printable
