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Pokeka the experience |
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TRAMPERS
MAPS
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Pokeka track loosely follows the Pokeka stream through farmland and forest
with the destination, Pokeka hut, approximately 4 ½ hrs from the Waitotara
valley road end. Pokeka hut has now been removed
despite the overwhelming public demand to retain the hut in the recreation
review. The forest section is valley forest with some grand trees
on show. The hut nestled in a glade with a large Rimu just out from the
door. The farmland section includes a walk through the Rotokohu wetlands
which has survived the Feb 04 floods and is slowly reverting back to it's
original glory of a lake and swamps framed by the forest of the Rotokohu
scenic reserve. The hut was about 80 minutes beyond the end of the farmland
but due to heavy stock grazing there is serious deforestation well into
our public land. This has noticeably worsened in the last decade. There is
much goat and deer damage and control is sorely needed. As access on the
paper road through the farmland does not connect to the council bridge at
the formed road end permission is required and usually afforded to
trampers but hunters are denied. There is an alternative for hunters but
navigation skills are needed. (see
Alternative access). The track is rated
as "Back Country Adventurer" by DoC, no doubt reflecting it’s past
popularity. It was proposed to be closed in the current recreation review
but now has reverted to a "cease maintenance" track, a status it is well
used to as neglect and lack of promotion are hallmarks of DoC’s 18 years
of stewardship in the Waitotara’s. While Pokeka hut was an excellent destination in itself it was also a necessary link in the eastern route through the Waitotara State Forest and the Southern Wanganui National Park to the Matemateaonga Walkway, two long days walk to the north. Maungarau was the next hut on this route, about 4½ hours away. But it too has been removed. This route, and it's two connecting links across to the western route, is what DoC proposed to remove in the recreation review but the fact that it represented 78% of the total national track closures gives an indication of how out of step Wanganui DoC is with the rest of the country. Due to the public outcry this route is now proposed "cease maintenance" which will save it in the short term. One of the highlights in the past of staying at Pokeka was the sound of numerous kiwi at night but unfortunately we have heard none in the last few visits. Hopefully the decline in numbers is not permanent; this was a stronghold for them. Day trips from the hut site include walking towards Maungarau as far as one feels. This is a ridge top walk which is a pleasant change from the valley walk in to the hut and the views out from the forested ridge give an indication of the scale of this forgotten land. Other walks can include exploring the Whakauahi Stream straight across the Pokeka stream from the hut or going further up the Pokeka beyond the hut site where there are some large bush covered river flats. Neither of these are marked tracks. The Pokeka stream is not bridged and despite it being only a small stream it rapidly becomes uncrossable in wet conditions. The hut was on the roadend side of the stream, so escape home is hindered in the wet mainly by the crossing of the Tunapoto side stream where the farmland ends. |
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 Pokeka valley |
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 DoC's interest here is clearly nil. |
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 the Rotokohu wetlands |
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