Field Trip: Forest, Lakes and Wetlands of the Waikato and Waipa

Come and join us for a weekend field trip based in the Waikato / Waipa at Pirongia Lodge, located on the foothills of Pirongia Forest Park. The weekend will be led by Project Tongariro members Lucy Roberts and Lesley Mochan. 

15 – 17 September 2023

Accommodation

We have secured the entire Pirongia Lodge for the weekend! The Lodge has large cabin style bunk beds that can sleep up to 42 people, along with a preparation/wash up room, fully equipped kitchen with x 2 commercial ovens and a sterilizer, food store with x 2 commercial fridges and chest freezer, hall that can be used as dining and conference room (White Board and Media Projector and Screen) and a laundry/drying room. It is $45 per person/per night. The weekend will be self-catered, other than dinner at the local pub on Saturday night.

Activites

There are several walks for us to choose from to enjoy and explore Pirongia mountain and views: https://www.doc.govt.nz/globalassets/documents/parks-and-recreation/places-to-visit/waikato/pirongiabrochure.pdf

We hope to meet a member of the Pirongia Te Aroaro o Kahu Restoration Society to introduce us to the work the society is doing to bring the maunga and ngahere back to life and to re-introduce key native species like kokako, dactylanthus and mistletoe. Like Project Tongariro, volunteers are at the heart of the restoration society. You can read about the society here: https://www.mtpirongia.org.nz/

There are many lakes and wetlands in the Waikato and Waipa area. We plan to visit Rotopiko, a complex of small peat lakes near Ohaupo. Where we hope to meet a member of the Wetland Trust to hear about the work happening at the site. The Wetland Trust and partners (Waikato Regional Council, Waipa District Council and New Zealand Landcare Trust) look after Rotopiko. You can read about Rotopiko here: https://www.wetlandtrust.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Rotopiko-Brochure-Jul-2013.pdf

Booking priority will be given to Project Tongariro members. If you are interested in becoming a Project Tongariro member, you can sign up here.