Greater Wellington — Wainuiomata Regional Park

The gateway to the largest and most pristine lowland forests in the lower North Island with great swimming spots and tracks for walking and mountain biking.

Opening hours

Parks are always open to foot traffic.
Vehicle gates are open 6am - 6pm in winter, and 6am - 8pm during daylight savings

Notices

1080 operations: October 2024 – Northern Remutaka Ranges

Update – October 2024

The 1080 operation being carried out by OSPRI is no longer planned for Wainuiomata Regional Park. All activities, including dog walking at Nikau Track, can continue as usual.

For more information, visit the 1080 operations webpage.

Posted 07/10/2024

Activities

A view of the water from the Wainuiomata Park gums loop

Aerial photo of the Wainuiomata Gum Loop Track

Activities

Walking and hiking

The recreation area is open all year round for walks amongst pristine native bush and waterways.

Beside the recreation area is the Wainuiomata Water Collection Area, a specially protected area that is only accessible through a guided walk.

Wainuiomata Regional Park brochure

Read more here

Published 20 Dec 2021

Download now (PDF 693 KB)

Track	Time/grade	Details
Lower Dam Walk	1 hour 20 minutes return / easy	From the carpark this is an easy walk to one on New Zealand's oldest dams. Along the way you can visit the water history museum and learn about Wellington's water history and enjoy the bird song. Mountain bikes and heavy vehicles use the road so for your safety walk on the track.
Gums Loop Track	1 hour return / easy	This track takes you through the gum trees and past the old dam construction houses. Cross the Triangle Paddock from the carpark, then the footbridge and follow the river upstream through the gum trees and past regenerating bush. Cross back over the river via the swingbridge and return to the carpark along the sealed road.
Nikau Creek Track	1 hour return / easy to moderate	Cross the Triangle Paddock, then the footbridge and follow the track upstream. Shortly after entering the bush a side track leads up beside Nikau Creek. The track passes through native bush. Return by the same route.
Sledge Track	1.5 hours return / easy	This track takes you up through native bush and gives views down over the Wainuiomata Valley. Starting from the old house site, it follows the path of a historic logging track put in by the Sinclair family in the mid 1800s. Climbing through native bush beside the Sledge Track Creek, the path loops back towards the house site, over the swing bridge and then back via the sealed road to the car park.
Tana Umaga Track	2 hours return / easy to moderate	A challenging walk, it has a pleasant view of the Lower Dam flooded to create a wetland in 2007. Views of the upper Wainuiomata River valley are also possible from the rest stop. The easiest direction of travel is up the Sledge Track then down the Tana Umaga Track to the Gums Loop. Fun fact: Formed in the 1970s, this track was a geological survey route built to investigate rock structures as part of a (rejected) proposal to dam the Wainuiomata River.

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Dog walking

Dogs on leads are welcome in Wainuiomata Regional Park

Wainuiomata Regional Park dog rules

Read more here

Published 03 Nov 2022

Download now (PDF 608 KB)

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Swimming

Hunting

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

Recreational Hunting – Wainuiomata and Orongorongo Water Collection Areas

There is an annual ballot to win one of forty, three-day hunting periods for the entire block in April each year. Each period is from Friday to Sunday. The application for hunting ballots is closed for 2024.

Conditions

Both hunter and hunting partner must have a current New Zealand Firearm Licence

No loaded firearms are to be carried on any access track outside the permit area. No hunting is to take place within 200 metres of any tracks or the catchment boundaries marked on the permit maps.

Only centre fire rifles of calibre .222 Remington or larger may be used for hunting, or crossbows and bows with a minimum drawing factor of 18kg (40lb). Shotguns, air rifles and rimfire rifles are prohibited.

Hunting will be permitted between 5am and 8pm. No shooting in the hours of darkness. No overnighting is permitted.

Light NO fires

No dogs permitted

Carcasses and offal must be buried well away from stream beds, huts, campsites and tracks (50 meters at least). All rubbish must be removed from Greater Wellington Regional Council land by the permit holder. No gutting of carcasses near streams. Prepare the animal for removal as far away from streams as possible

Frequently asked questions

What are the dates and how many blocks are available?

There are ten Wainuiomata/Orongorongo blocks which are open for the following dates:

1-2 April
8-9 April
15-16 April
22-23 April

Where are the blocks in the parks?

Download the Wainuiomata/Orongorongo hunting ballot blocks map:

Wainuiomata / Orongorongo Hunting Ballot Blocks

Read more here

Published 26 Jan 2023

Download now (PDF 2.8 MB)

Is there a cost?

No cost.

Does my nominated partner need a firearms licence?

As the block holder you are responsible to ensure that both the Firearms Acts and the Terms and Conditions you accepted to receive the hunting block are obeyed by you and your partner at all times.

What if I win a block and my nominated hunting partner can’t make that date or pulls out, can I bring someone else?

You can change your nominated partner. However, you must let the parks team know as soon as possible so changes to your permit can be made. Please email parks@gw.govt.nz if you wish to change your hunting partner.

Do I need a 4WD?

Blocks 1-5 only require a 2WD.

Blocks 6-10 require a 4WD.

Will other people be present in my hunting block?

No, each block is dedicated to you for the dates specified on your permit.

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Volunteering

History

Early history

Māori used the hills and valleys to travel between the Wairarapa and Te Whanganui a Tara (Wellington Harbour). Later some of the lower valley (including what is now the Recreation Area) was logged for timber and is now regenerating. Remnants of the old logging tramway remain, as do two old camp sites from the earlier dam construction days.

Water supply dams and museum

The lush native forests and clear water of the Wainuiomata and Orongorongo Rivers provide a source of drinking water for the Wellington region. The Wainuiomata River has been a source of Wellington's drinking water since 1884 when the Lower Dam and pipeline were built. The larger concrete dam, named the Morton Dam, was completed in 1911.

As the population of Wellington and surrounding boroughs continued to grow and three dry years followed from 1915-17, the council were advised to advised to develop the Orongorongo Valley as its next water source. A weir and pipeline from Orongorongo River were constructed in 1926 and a simple water treatment plant was built in 1963.

By 1988 the Morton Dam was decommissioned in response to concerns about its ability to withstand a major earthquake or flood. The reservoir was drained and the dam breached at its western end to allow passage of water from the Wainuiomata River and George Creek to retain water supplies from those sources.

In the late 1980s the system had reached the end of its useful working life. Morton Dam was decommissioned and emptied of its water.

In 1993 a new state-of-the-art treatment plant was built. Water is now taken directly from weirs in both the Wainuiomata and Orongorongo catchments. The new plant produces up to 60 million litres of high-quality water per day and supplies about 15 percent of the water used by the greater Wellington region.

The Wainuiomata Water Collection Area is a specially protected area that is only accessible through a guided walk. 

In 2018 a water history museum was opened in the lower dam area, near the ranger’s office. The museum is open daily from 9am – 5pm. You will be able to see the historic water catchment artefacts and learn about the history of the area. Make sure you make some time to have a look around.

As of 2024, Morton Dam is up for consideration to be added to the New Zealand Heritage List/Rārangi Kōrero.

Wainuiomata Tunnel history

Wainuiomata Tunnel History

Information on the history of the Wainuiomata Tunnel, which was commissioned in 1932 by the Wainuiomata Development Company in order to make travel between Wainuiomata and the Hutt Valley more… Read more here

Published 01 Mar 2012

Download now (PDF 602 KB)

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Description

Check out the lower dam and the water museum to learn about the history of the area. The lower dam has become important wetland habitat for a range of birds supported by regenerating native bush.

There are seasonal opportunities for guided walking tours into the adjoining water catchments with their old growth forests. Star gazing events are also popular here as dark skies are a key feature of this park.

Learn more about Dark Skies at Wainuiomata

Know before you go

Dogs are welcome in most of the park but must be on a lead at all times as there are kiwis in the area. No dogs allowed on the Lower Dam walk beyond the Gums Loop junction.
Bring your gas BBQ but no fires are permitted.
Toilets are located at the Ranger's Office in the Lower Dam site.
Always watch children near the water.
No horse riding or motorbikes allowed.

Download the park brochure

Wainuiomata Regional Park brochure

Read more here

Published 20 Dec 2021

Download now (PDF 693 KB)

Getting there

By public transport

Take a route 170 bus from Waterloo Interchange to Hine Road. Head to Metlink to plan your journey:

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

Follow the main road through Wainuiomata and turn left at the roundabout into Moores Valley Road. Take the first turn right into Whitcher Grove and follow this to the park.

Enter the park from the end of Hine Road (turn left off the Coast Road).

Updated July 1, 2024 at 5:16 PM

Get in touch

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

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Wainuiomata Regional Park

Haere mai, welcome to Wainuiomata Regional Park

Opening hours

Activities