Wainuiomata Recreation Area

Wainuiomata Regional Park
Narrow-leaved māhoe ( Melicytus lanceolatus )
Type	Regional park
Location	Lower Hutt, Wellington Region, New Zealand
Coordinates	41°16′44″S174°57′48″E / 41.2788878°S 174.9634499°E / -41.2788878; 174.9634499
Operated by	Wellington Regional Council
Open	6am-6pm winter 6am-8pm summer
Status	Open

Wainuiomata Regional Park is a regional park located near Wainuiomata, Lower Hutt in the Wellington Region at the southern end of New Zealand's North Island. It is administered by Wellington Regional Council. ^[1] In January 2022 the park's name officially changed from Wainuiomata Recreation Area to Wainuiomata Regional Park. ^[2]

There are kiwi living in the reserve. ^[1]

Geography

The Wainuiomata Regional Park is at the foot of one of the largest and most untouched lowland forests in the lower North Island. ^[3] It adjoins the Wainuiomata Water Collection Area and Remutaka Forest Park.

It includes a range of native vegetation, including gum trees,^{[ clarification needed ]} maturing beech trees, and regenerating forest. ^[1]

History

Māori used the hills and valleys of the area to travel between Wairarapa and the Wellington Harbour. ^[3]

In the mid-19th century, the Sinclair family and other European settlers logged the lower valley for timber, including the site of the current recreational area. ^{[3] [4]} In the 1880s, an earth dam and pipeline was established to collect fresh water from the Wainuiomata and Ōrongorongo Rivers. There are still remnants of the old logging tramways and old dam construction camp sites in the park. ^[3]

A geological survey route was built in the 1970s, to investigate rock structures and the possibility of damning the Wainuiomata River. It is now open to the public as the Tana Umaga Track. ^[4]

Vegetation is now regenerating, and the rivers now provide about 15% of the region's drinking water. ^[3]

The Lower Dam was flooded in 2007 to create a wetland. ^[4]

Wellington Regional Council consulted on the future of the park in 2020. ^[5] A native plant nursery was opened in the park in August 2021. ^[6]

Recreation

The park includes a swimming spot and a range of walking tracks, featuring a swingbridge and footbridge. ^[1]

There are two tracks which are suitable for a range of walkers, including parents with baby buggies:

• Lower Dam Walk (1 hour 20 minutes return), a track suitable for mountain bikers, cyclists, walkers and baby buggies which is also used by heavy vehicles
• Gums Loop Track (1 hour return), a track through gum trees, old dam construction houses and regenerating bush, crossing the river by a footbridge and a swingbridge ^{[4] [7]}

There are also three other tracks for walkers:

• Nikau Creek Track (1 hour return), a track upstream alongside the Nikau Creek, returning the same way
• Sledge Track (1 hour 30 mins return), a track through native bush, a flat planting site, a historic logging track and regenerating forest beside tot he Sledge Track Creek, to a viewpoint across the Wainuiomata Valley, and then looping back
• Tana Umaga Track (1 hour 40 mins), a track with views of the Lower Dam and the upper Wainuiomata River valley ^[4]

Dogs are banned on the Lower Dam walk beyond Gums Loop junction, and must be on leash in other areas. Droppings must be removed. However, dogs are allowed off-leash at some nearby city parks. ^[1]

Fireworks are banned at all times. ^[1]

The park is open from 6am to 6pm during winter, and from 6am to 8pm during summer. ^[1]

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Wainuiomata .

1. "Wainuiomata Regional Park". gw.govt.nz. Wellington Regional Council.
2. "Renaming of Reserves—Wainuiomata Recreation Area". gazette.govt.nz. New Zealand Gazette.
3. "History". gw.govt.nz. Wellington Regional Council.^{[ dead link ]}
4. "Walking, running and tramping". gw.govt.nz. Wellington Regional Council.
5. "Greater Wellington invites input on future of regional parks". Australasian Leisure Management. ausleisure.com.au. 21 August 2020.
6. "Community Plant Nursery Sprouts New Life In Wainuiomata". scoop.co.nz. Wellington Regional Council. 9 August 2021.
7. "Take your buggy walking". stuff.co.nz. Dominion Post. 10 January 2012.