Kaitoke photos

About

Our photos of Kaitoke Regional Park capture the beauty of this natural landscape of forest and rivers in the foothills of the Tararua range.

Within the Tararua range lies Kaitoke Regional Park. It was the location for Rivendell as well as the Fords of Isen in the movie trilogy ‘The Lord of the Rings’. It is located near Upper Hutt in the Hutt Valley. Wellington city is less than one hour’s drive.

The park covers 2860 hectares of bush-clad hills including tracts of virgin podocarp rainforest with impressive examples of mature rata, rimu, and beech. These giants of the forest rise high above the canopy. Below are smaller natives including hinau, kamahi, and miro. On the forest floor is a profusion of tall tree ferns with ground ferns and mosses below.

The park is dissected by the the Eastern Hutt River and Hutt River. The latter has a spectacular gorge and grade 3 rapids. These rivers have many clear deep river pools ideal for swimming. Water here is kept in pristine condition and some of it is used as the drinking water for Wellington city.  Pipes and water work stations are visible on some of the walks.

You can stay the night at the local campground or spend a day here. Barbeque facilities are located near the entrance to the park. The Tararua Range and scenic Remutaka Hill Road nearby allows for further exploration of the area.

Taking photos of Kaitoke, rafting, swimming and bush walks can all be enjoyed in the park. This is perhaps the easiest place to photograph New Zealand’s impressive temperate rainforest, rivers, and mountains without having to venture too far from civilization. You can make the trek from Wellington city and return the same day.