Waitaanga Conservation Area

Waitaanga Conservation Area is made up of diverse forest from steep rugged gorges to flat plateau country in the north. Possums, goats and pigs are hunted in the area.

Good quantities of goats, possums and pigs are present in this reserve, although it receives annual goat control by DOC staff.

The popular Waitaanga Conservation Area is a diverse forest, from steep rugged gorgy land to the south, to flat plateau country in the north. The Waitaanga Stream and Tangarakau River are major headwater catchments of the Whanganui River.

The area is a mix of remnant and regenerating forest with rimu, kamahi, tawa, kahikatea and rewarewa. In the south hard beech is dominant.

A series of tramlines and tracks, remnants of logging and coal mining in the area, provide access to the 60 m high Te Rerepahupahu Falls and the area is popular with trampers. Mt Damper Falls and a picnic area is a short walk into the forest off the Okau Road.

Kokako, kākāriki, bats, kaka, falcon and kiwi are in the area along with the endangered Dacytlanthus taylorii.

There is good access off Forgotten World Highway (SH43) and Okau Road (SH40). Trig Peak Road, Waro Road and South Waitaanga Road all lead into the area.

Permission to access Waitaanga Conservation Area via private land must be gained by arrangements with adjoining landholders. Access may be restricted at the owners discretion during lambing between 1 August and 31 October.

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There are no DOC huts in this reserve.

Dogs are prohibited except where authorisation has been granted by DOC. People wishing to take a dog into this area need to get a permit from the local DOC office and have a current kiwi aversion certificate.

Avian awareness and avoidance training

To take dogs across private property, or tracks crossing farmland, you must get permission from the landowner.