Moki Track

Access to the western end of the track is from the north side of Moki Road/Waitara River bridge. The eastern end of the track starts at the end of the formed Moki Road, south of the airstrip on farmland. Gates should be left as found and stock undisturbed. The track goes through Makino Conservation Area, generally following the south bank of the upper Waitara River. The track began as a surveyed road alignment that was to be developed to service the rehabilitation farms of soldiers after the First World War. Three farms were established in the valley; the remains of two homesteads can be seen along the eastern end of the track. Land that was cleared is now regenerating. The track follows generally easy grades and is levelled along most of its 18 km length. This work was done with wheelbarrows, picks and shovels as early as 1910. The terrain is rough and suspension bridges cross five of the deeper chasms. Expect mud. Both ends of the track pass through some 3 km of farmland before entering the forest, which contains good stands of tawa, kamahi and rimu. A return trip is necessary, unless prior transport arrangements have been made.