Description

(Following mostly from the DOC website with some extra details)

NB: If it's been raining, the Orongorongo River can become quite high. It can also drop quickly after rain. If you don't have much experience crossing big rivers, keep this run for a sunny day (the views are better too). If the water is clear it's most likely safe to cross, but if it's murky, use a lot of caution.

Follow the gentle gradient of the Orongorongo Track for about 5 km before descending to an arched bridge over the Turere Stream to the Orongorongo River. Either run up the river bed or if running on river stones doesn't sound appealing, take the Big Bend Track for another 4 km. At the end of Big Bend Track you get spat out onto the river. Cross over and keep an eye out for the Matthews Stream about 100m further up on the true left of the river (on your right), marked with a large orange triangle. A poled route criss-crosses the stream for about 600 metres leading to the start of the Mt Matthews Track on the true left.

The track climbs steeply for 4km, passing the South Saddle/Mukamuka Track and emerging onto a grassy plateau with spectacular views of Wellington Harbour and the lower Wainuiomata Valley. Take note of this point as you emerge onto the grassy plateau for your return as it's poorly marked and you can easily miss it on the way back. The track becomes quite a bit rougher from here on until the summit which is marked with a sign to the North Saddle. The summit is clad with forest, but you can catch glimpses of Palliser Bay, and the Wairarapa Plains through gaps in the trees.

Features of interest

Mt Matthews is the tallest peak in the Rimutaka Ranges, the nearest to Wellington, and is pretty obvious for those that gaze across the harbour to the hills and mountains that dominate the eastern horizon.

The Forest Park is lush with conifer-broadleaf forest and beech forest higher up with active pest management from both government agencies and a strong volunteer network (you'll see plenty of traps of all descriptions along the route). Kiwi are in the area so there is a strict dogs on leashes ONLY policy in the park. Better to leave the dog at home. Large rimu, miro, etc are everywhere and depending on the weather you'll see and hear plenty of bird life.

The Orongorongo Valley has a huge number of huts, both private and public. The DOC huts can be fully booked out making them popular with families and groups. See the DOC Rimutaka Forest Park website for more details (http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/wellington-kapiti/places/rimutaka-forest-park/).

Make Up of Run

Untracked / Route only: 5%

Technical Single Track: 50%

Moderate Single Track: 20%

Easy Single Track: 25%

Route Data