Tramping more family friendly with New Waitawheta Bridges

With three of the six river crossings bridged, the Waitawheta tramping track, in the Kaimai Mamaku Forest Park is now safer for family groups but still offers the adventure of getting your feet wet. The Department of Conservation (DOC) was pleased to open the two bridges on the popular the three hour track on Saturday following their final engineer’s inspection.

“The Waitawheta Hut was packed to capacity on Wednesday night in part thanks to the two new bridges. Hopefully they will encourage more family groups and less experienced trampers to explore the Waitawheta Valley and gain confidence in the outdoors,” said Kody Williams DOC Ranger and project manager.
The Bateman family of Tauranga were some of the first to try out the new bridges. Having spent the night at the 26-bunk Waitawheta Hut they were enjoying the scenery on their leisurely walk back to their car. Twelve year-old cousins Keegan and Taylor Bateman were both impressed by the riverside track. “The big rocks in the river looked really cool,” enthused Keegan; “and the natures really nice,” added Taylor.

International volunteers representing seven different nationalities have also been working on the Waitawheta track this week. South Korean tourist, Joonmi Roh is part of a team from Conservation Volunteers New Zealand (CVNZ) spending a week of her holiday helping to bench sections of the Waitawheta and Waipapa track. In the last year CVNZ volunteers and their tutors have spent 15 weeks working with the Department of Conservation in the Waitawheta Valley on heritage projects, and creating and maintaining tracks.
The Waitawheta Track forms part of the Kaimai Heritage Trail. It follows the path of an historic tramway used to log kauri timber early last century. The concrete foundations of the original tramway bridges are still visible in the river below the new suspension bridges. Original tramway sleepers, and ballast rock can still be seen on much of the tramping track, along with a restored logging bogie and information panels which tell the story of the Waitawheta Valley’s early industrial history.

The Waitawheta Track begins at the end of Franklin Road, 10km from Waihi. The track passes through private farm land before entering the Kaimai Mamaku Forest Park. The track is relatively flat as it follows the historic Waitawheta Tramline bed but requires several river crossings. More information and hut tickets are available from your local DOC office and most information centres.