Akatarawa Forest Park

A speedy visit to the largest rata you’ll ever see: the Karapoti Rata

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Date: 24 June 2023.
Trip type: Day .
Location: Akatarawa Forest Park - Upper Hutt.
Author: Anne .
Trampers: Anne DF (leader), Murray, Leo, AJ, Holly, Emily, .

I had my sights set on the Karapoti Rata for a while. The largest rata tree in New Zealand, and even the world? Just 30 minutes drive and a short scramble away from Wellington? I had to see it. Five of us were meeting at 7.50am at the train station, and when I pulled in … Read more

Akatarawa Canyon Day Trip

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Date: 24 November 2018.
Trip type: Canyoning EM (v3a2).
Location: Akatarawa Forest Park.
Author: MeganS and Marie.
Trampers: MeganS (leader), Bart, Caryl, David, EmilyS, Marie, MikeC, MikeW, Tracey.

Team Badger post-canyoning adventure

Canyoning has a narrow season – focused around summer for less time shivering and lower water hazard. This trip was great as a season starter – to get back in to the swing of it and to take a few people out on their first trip – the access is relatively easy and the canyon … Read more

Mountain Biking on the Kāpiti Coast

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Date: 9 September 2018.
Trip type: MTB Mountain Biking.
Location: Akatarawa Forest Park and Kāpiti Coast.
Author: Henry.
Trampers: Emily (leader), Debbie, Sue, Ryan and Henry.

INTRODUCTION This is a great place to go if you’re training for a bike-packing mission like the Old Ghost Road, getting into mountain biking but tired of the crowds at Makara Peak, or just out to explore some beautiful coastal forest. It has great variety of track, challenging ups, exciting downs, lovely forest, stunning views … Read more