This giant Rata tree rises out of the canopy of a podocarp rainforest. The location is Kaitoke Regional Park...
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.
Looking at the upper reaches of the Hutt River in Kaitoke Regional Park. Surrounded by native forest in the...
Walking through a rainforest in Kaitoke Regional Park. This walk is a circuit that starts or finishes at a...
View of Hutt River Gorge in Kaitoke Regional Park in the Wellington region. The river has excellent natural pools that...
View of a walking bridge over the Hutt River in Kaitoke Regional Park. This bridge forms part of a...
View of the upper reaches of the Hutt River inside Kaitoke Regional Park. The river has a number of...
View of a circuit walk through a Podocarp rainforest in Kaitoke Regional Park. Podocarp trees are found in the...
Mature rimu & kahikatea pierce the canopy of a podocarp rain forest within Kaitoke Regional Park. The park is...
View of the swing bridge at the Rivendell carpark in Kaitoke Regional Park near Upper Hutt. The bridge takes...
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