**Otūnahe and Hidden Valley walkways change in Management**

As of 4th October East Taranaki Environment Collective (ETEC) will no longer manage or receive proceeds from the Otūnahe and Hidden Valley walkways on the private land of Karen and Bob Schumacher located at Pūrangi/Matau area.

Karen and Bob are keeping the Hidden Valley and Otūnahe walkways open. Please contact them directly for any enquiries.  Phone: 067568064  or contact via facebook: purangiwalkstaranaki

Hidden Valley 30 minute walk |  Otunahe 2 1/2 to 3 hours

2016-08-30

Otunahe Scenic Reserve Walk

  • Distance Instructions
Label
  • Distance 6 km
  • Duration 1 h 27 min
  • AVG speed 4 km/h
  • Min altitude 107 m
  • Peak 289 m
  • Climb 446 m
  • Descent 447 m

Otunahe Scenic Reserve Walk

The Otūnahe Scenic Reserve (approx 70 hectares) is a private QEII-covenanted reserve which lies on the farm property of Bob and Karen Schumacher. The reserve is a wonderful example of mature native forest.  The area has a rich biodiversity and is home to many of our native species including fernbird, bellbird, tui, kereru, New Zealand Robin, New Zealand Falcon, whitehead and of course the kiwi.   Please note: you won’t see or hear the kiwi because they are nocturnal and shy and they are asleep in their burrows – but you might see footprints, droppings or probe holes in the soil! Grade: Medium to High. Time: 2 ½ to 3 hours. Clothing: Ensure you have good footwear and drink.

  1. On arriving at walkways carpark please sign the visitors book located in the public toilets.
  2. Follow the walkway sign for ‘Otunahe’ and in the last paddock aim for the far right-hand gate and follow the track up to the top paddocks.
  3. As you catch your breath take time to admire the large manuka/kanuka hill on your left. This is the territory of the kiwi named Titoko. Eggs were taken from his nest for three years starting in 2004 and were the start of the Operation Nest Egg project to increase kiwi in Egmont National Park.
  4. Once you get to the top paddock head to the top and admire the view of the mountains in both directions. Turn and head to the top left hand corner. Here a sign on the “Taranaki gate” marks the start of the QE11 reserve. Go through and follow the track.
  5. The first part of the walk will take you down a spur where at each corner more of the forest opens up to you. A number of signs are in place to identify some of the flora. From start to finish, the scenery, the flora and fauna and the bird life are abundant. The track is well formed but is steep so please watch your feet.
  6. Once you are almost to the bottom you leave the main track and head onto a side track on the left. You then follow a small creek almost to its headwater, past many tiny native orchids. Beware of the stinging nettle that can be found in this area.
  7. From here staircases will lead you up out of the creek bed to the mighty rimu trees. These magnificent specimens are thought to be about 800 to 1000 years old. Look up and admire what seems to be a forest in its own right, high in the canopy of the tree. As you zigzag up the track in the distance more rimu can be seen.
  8. At the top you are back in a paddock where trees have been planted for a carbon forest. Far below is the Waitara River. You follow the track along and then down, until you reach the paddocks at the bottom and head back to the start of your walk