Wainuiomata Regional Park

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Wainuiomata Regional Park
Wainuiomata river and swimming hole.jpg
Wainuiomata river and swimming hole
Wainuiomata Regional Park
TypeRegional park
Location Lower Hutt, Wellington Region, New Zealand
Coordinates 41°16′45″S174°59′04″E / 41.2792°S 174.9844°E / -41.2792; 174.9844
Operated by Wellington Regional Council
Open6am-6pm winter
6am-8pm summer
StatusOpen

Wainuiomata Regional Park is a regional park located near Wainuiomata, Lower Hutt in the Wellington Region of New Zealand. It is administered by Wellington Regional Council. [1] The name of the park was changed from Wainuiomata Recreation Area to Wainuiomata Regional Park in January 2022. [2]

Contents

There are kiwi living in the reserve. [1]

Geography

The Wainuiomata Regional Park is adjacent to one the largest areas of lowland native forests in the lower North Island. [3] [4] It adjoins the Wainuiomata Water Collection Area and Remutaka Forest Park.

History

Māori used the hills and valleys of the area to travel between Wairarapa and 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 regional park. [3]

Wellington Regional Council consulted on the future of the park in 2020. [5]

Water collection area

Historic Lower Dam on Waninuiomata River Historic Lower Dam.jpg
Historic Lower Dam on Waninuiomata River

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. The rivers now provide about 15% of the region's drinking water. [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.

At the eastern edge of the reserve is a water museum and the Lower Dam. This area was flooded in 2007 to create a wetland.

Native plant nursery

A native plant nursery was opened in the park in August 2021. The nursery was built and is operated by volunteers from Forest & Bird New Zealand, as project partners with Greater Wellington Regional Council. It can hold up to 12,000 seedlings of native species, including rimu, kahikatea, miro, mataī, rewarewa, coprosma, and carex. [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:

There are also three other tracks for walkers:

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

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References

  1. 1 2 3 "Wainuiomata Regional Park". gw.govt.nz. Wellington Regional Council.
  2. ↑ "Renaming of Reserves—Wainuiomata Recreation Area". gazette.govt.nz. New Zealand Gazette.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "History". archive.gw.govt.nz. Wellington Regional Council . Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  4. ↑ "Ecological Treasures of Lower Hutt Forest & Bird". Forest & Bird. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
  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.

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