Greater Wellington — Hutt Water Collection Area

This remote water collection area offers a rugged wilderness area for experienced trampers. For those that are up to the challenge, there are some spectacular views and hunting experiences to be had.

Opening hours

6am till 6pm (1 April - 30 Sept) or 9pm (1 Oct - 31 March)

Notices

Activities

A view of the river in the Hutt Water Collection Area

Activities

Walking, running, and tramping

Joining a tramping club is a good starting point for exploring this area. Some local clubs include:

The times given below are one way only for fit, experienced people and do not allow for breaks.

Kaitoke to Hutt Forks

2 hours

Follow the formed track from Farm Creek over the ridge into the catchment. Ford the river near the track end or use the bridge upstream in wet weather. A route is marked downstream on the true right bank to Hutt Forks.

Hutt Forks - Alpha via Eastern Hutt

5 hours

Follow the marked route on the true right bank of the Eastern Hutt River over a spur to the upper reaches. No routes are marked beyond this point. About 2.5 hours up the valley at Quoin Stream an easily graded spur leads north towards Alpha.

The Eastern Hutt hut is for emergency use only.

Hutt Forks - Alpha via Quoin Ridge

6 hours

From Hutt Forks head north up Quoin Ridge. Route finding can be difficult on the broad Quoin Ridge. Use a map and compass.

Hutt Forks - Renata Hutt via Western Hutt

7 hours

There are no marked tracks in this part of the catchment. From Hutt Forks go up the Western Hutt River, 3 hours to Renata Forks. The river is dangerous in wet weather. From Renata Forks climb the spur north to reach Renata (920m). From here it is 1 hour along the formed track to Renata Hut.

Hutt Forks - Renata Hut via Maymorn Ridge

6 hours

There are few marked routes in this part of the catchment. Route finding can be difficult. From Hutt Forks, cross the Western Hutt River and climb north-west up the spur to Maymorn (851m). Follow the ridge to Pukeruru and reach a marked route leading north along the ridge to Maymorn Junction. High winds and low cloud can increase travel times greatly on this route.

See more Walking and hiking

Hunting

Professional ground and aerial ungulate control is undertaken in this area on a regular basis for protecting the biodiversity values of the ecosystem.

We have finished undertaking an aerial possum control operation in the Hutt Water Collection Area (HWCA) using the pesticide, sodium fluoroacetate (1080) in May 2023.

The control dates were:

Prefeed – 25 May 2023

1080 – 13 June 2023

Hunters – Hunting in the Hutt Water Collection Area will not be closed during this operation. However, we advise that game animals within a 2km radius of the treatment area should not be taken for human consumption.

If you have a GPS device, you can download a GPX file of the boundaries of the aerial 1080 operation. Download the GPX file. (ZIP 8 KB)

Vehicles are not permitted in the park and there are few or no facilities in this rugged area.

If you want to hunt in one of our parks, you'll need to get a permit.

Apply for your hunting permit (not accessible on Internet Explorer).

Sustainable deer hunting

In order to manage numbers of deer and keep their numbers at sustainable levels, the NZ Game Animal Council advises that hunters try to shoot two to three hinds for every stag that they shoot, and to target older stags rather than younger ones. Read their full letter for more information and advice. (PDF 260 KB)

Hunting hot spots

This is a heat map of areas where deer, goats, and pigs were found in the Hutt Water Collection Area between 2021 and 2023.

Hunting hot spots in Hutt Water Collection Area

This is a heat map of areas where deer, goats, and pigs were found in the Hutt Water Collection Area between 2021 and 2023. Read more here

Published 21 Sep 2023

Download now (PDF 12 MB)

See more Hunting

Description

The 8900-hectare Hutt Water Collection Area takes in the headwaters of the Hutt River at the southern end of the Tararua Range. Half the water supply for the Wellington urban area comes from this catchment, drawn at the Kaitoke weir.

There are extensive areas of unmodified silver beech, red beech, and valley floor podocarp forest, alpine tussock lands, alpine wet turf and sub-alpine sphagnum bog. It is one of the few areas in the region containing southern rata, a species endangered by possum browsing. The forest is home to a great variety of indigenous forest birds, including the rare kaka, kakariki and NZ falcon (karearea).

Greater Wellington manages the Hutt Water Collection Area carefully to protect water quality, controlling possums and other animal pests to protect the rich variety of plant, fish, insect and bird species that make up the forest ecosystem. We use vegetation plots, exclosure areas and animal abundance plots to monitor vegetation response and animal numbers in the area. Photo points provide a record of vegetation changes at specific sites.

Know before you go

Dogs are not permitted in the Water Collection Area unless accompanying someone with a hunting permit
There are no facilities in the water collection area and is very exposed to the north-west and south. It has a reputation for high winds, fog, and sudden weather changes. Rivers and streams can rise very rapidly in heavy rain
Fires are prohibited
Staying overnight is not permitted

Only experienced back country users should enter the area as there are few formed tracks or marked routes. For your safety and to prevent unnecessary searches please:

Take a topographic map (NZ Topo 50 BP33) and compass
Be prepared for sudden weather changes and for strong winds on the hill-tops. Always carry enough warm clothes and rainwear for cold conditions
Check weather forecasts on Metservice before leaving and take ample high energy food for your trip
Do not attempt to cross flooded streams. Be prepared to wait if conditions become dangerous
Let someone know your intended route, party size and return time. Always contact this person on your return
Read and understand the Land Safety Code

Caring for the water supply

To preserve the forest and protect our water supply from contamination and infectious diseases, please do not enter the catchment if you have had diarrhoea in the past two weeks.

Keep out of the area between Hutt Forks and the Kaitoke weir
Keep rivers and streams clean. Bury toilet waste in a shallow hole well away from watercourses
Light no fires. Take care with portable stoves, matches and cigarettes
Remove rubbish. Carry out what you carry in
Hunting is by permit only in the Water Collection Area. Apply online to get a 12 month hunting permit
Foot access only. No motor vehicles, trail bikes or mountain bikes are allowed in the Water Collection Area
No camping. Complete your trip into or through the catchment in one day
Do not damage or remove plants. Do not disturb vegetation research plots and markers

Getting there

Western Hutt River

By bike

Plan your route from the Hutt River Trail or Hutt Valley train line with the Hutt Valley cycle map.

Hutt Valley Cycle Map 2021 | Ko te Mahere Pahikara o Te Awakairangi 2021

Bike network of the Greater Wellington region - Ko ngā ara Pahikara o Pōneke Nui Tonu Read more here

Published 06 Apr 2022

Download now (PDF 14 MB)

By car

You can get to the Hutt Water Collection Area via Kaitoke Regional Park, Waterworks Road entrance. Park in the first car park with the information booth and cross the street to the Ranger's office. Follow the track west from the Ranger's office. Cross the stile by the locked gate.

You can also enter the Hutt Water Collection Area from tracks in the Tararua Forest Park.

For more information, please contact the Kaitoke Regional Park ranger at kaitoke.ranger@gw.govt.nz.

Updated July 1, 2024 at 4:08 PM

Get in touch

Phone:: 0800496734
Email:: info@gw.govt.nz

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Hutt Water Collection Area

Haere mai, welcome to Hutt Water Collection Area

Opening hours

Activities