Akatarawa Forest: Mountain Biking, Tramping & 4WD Near Upper Hutt
Photo: “Akatarawa River West in Akatarawa Forest” by Pseudopanax at English Wikipedia, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Park at a glance
- Region
- Wellington
- Location
- Between Upper Hutt and Kāpiti
- Managed by
- Greater Wellington Regional Council
- Dogs
- Dog friendly
- Camping
- No
Overview
Akatarawa Forest covers about 15,000 hectares of rugged hill country between Upper Hutt and the Kāpiti Coast. Akatarawa means "trailing vines". Māori used the forest for hunting and gathering food, and as a route to and from the Hutt Valley. From 1900 to 1920, sawmilling families moved in to log rimu, mataī, tōtara and kahikatea. You can still find old tramlines, trucks and machinery in the bush.
Today it's Greater Wellington's adventure forest. It's the only regional park in the region where you can ride trail bikes and quads or drive 4WDs (with permits). Its mountain bike trails are famous as the home of the Karapoti Classic, New Zealand's longest-running mountain bike race, held on the first weekend of March.
Getting there and opening hours
- Upper Hutt entrances: Bridge Road and Karapoti Road (via Akatarawa Road off SH2), and Tulsa Park / Totara Park
- Haywards (SH58): Bulls Run Road, via Cooks Road off Moonshine Road
- Pāuatahanui: Through Battle Hill Farm Forest Park
- Kāpiti: Maungakotukutuku Road, via Waterfall Road off SH1
- Bus: Route 111 from Upper Hutt Station (Monday to Saturday) to stop 8504, Totara Park – Tulsa Park, then walk about 250 m
- Hours: Open to walkers at any time. Vehicle gates are open 6am–6pm in winter and 6am–8pm during daylight saving.
Walks and tramping
| Track | Time | Grade | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cannon Point Walkway (to Birchville Dam) | 1 hr return | Easy | Old 1930s water-supply dam |
| Cannon Point Walkway (full) | 3–4 hr, 10 km | Moderate | Panoramic Hutt Valley views |
| Karapoti Gorge | 3 hr return | Easy | Deep swimming pools by the river |
| Mount Titi | 5 hr | Moderate–hard | Ridge views; trail bikes about |
There are no facilities in the forest. Take the Topo50 BP32 (Paraparaumu) map and keep to marked tracks. Wilderness camping is possible in some areas; ask the ranger first.
Mountain biking
| Ride | Time | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Karapoti Gorge | 1–2 hr return | 12 km |
| Valley View Loop | 2–3 hr | 15 km |
| Karapoti Challenge | 1.5–2 hr | 20 km |
| Whakatikei Loop | 2–4 hr | 22 km |
| Valley View–Karapoti Loop | 3–5 hr | 25 km |
| Karapoti Classic route | 4–8 hr | 50 km (experienced riders only) |
The Classic route includes the infamous Rock Garden and Devil's Staircase. Bikes aren't allowed on the Birchville Reservoir section of the Cannon Point Walkway.
Other activities
Motorised recreation
The main forest roads are open to permit holders on quad bikes and trail bikes. 4WD trips must be run through the Akatarawa Recreational Access Committee (ARAC) with certified trip leaders. The speed limit is 30 km/h. Pass walkers, riders and cyclists at walking pace.
Horse riding and hunting
Riders need a permit and usually float in at Maungakotukutuku Valley or Battle Hill. You can hunt deer, goats and pigs with a permit that also covers Kaitoke and Pākuratahi. Only centre-fire rifles (.222 or larger) or bows are allowed.
Dogs in Akatarawa Forest
Dogs are welcome in most areas but must be under control. Keep them on a lead on the southern part of the Cannon Point Walkway (the Tulsa Park and Zig Zag entrances), where it crosses private land.
Closures and notices
- The Kaikamako block is closed because unstable trees are a safety risk.
- Logging and power-line work is happening in several blocks. There's no weekday access to Maungakotukutuku Forest. Valley View Road has logging trucks during operating hours.
- No fires and no smoking anywhere in the exotic forest.
Check Greater Wellington's notices page before you go.
Check before you go
Track closures, gate times, fire bans and storm damage change often. Greater Wellington Regional Council posts current alerts for Akatarawa Forest on its official park page.
Current park alerts