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 Opepe Reserve. Taupo. New Zealand.
S 38° 46.030 E 176° 13.040
60H E 432005 N 5708769
On State Highway 5 from Napier to Taupo is the Opepe Historic and Scenic Reserve. The highway, 17kms from Taupo, bisects the Opepe Reserve and there are car parks on both sides of the road.
Waymark Code: WM6KYV
Location: North Island, New Zealand
Date Posted: 06/17/2009
Views: 2
The reserve is on gentle rolling yellow and brown pumice soils with mixed remnants of the podocarp forest representative of pre-Taupo eruption vegetation. The podocarp forest of giants i.e. rimu, totara, kahikatea, matai, miro and tanekaha, combines fivefinger-kohuhu, brackenland, and kanuka. This scenic reserve is home to the most common native NZ birds, including the NZ robin, and the seasonal berry eating NZ Woodpigeon (kereru), and the migratory birds such as the long-tailed cuckoo (koekoea) and the shining cuckoo (pipiwharauroa). There is some possibility the forest may also be home to the long tailed bat, an endangered species.
Historically, there was a Maori settlement and a timber and armed constabulary settlement, featuring a battle and grave site, with restored historic features as pits and water trough. This is a rural location with walking tracks for those interested in the history of the area. Easy to find at the top of 'snake straight' with a large area to park on SH1. A very busy highway, caution needed.
WALKING TRACKS:
Opepe Graves and Northern Walking Track: On the northern side a short walk, a loop track, brings you to a graveyard where members of the Bay of Plenty Cavalry, who died in an engagement with followers of the Maori warrior Te Kooti, were buried. Later, residents of Opepe Township and the Armed Constabulary were also buried there. Continue around the bush loop track through mature podocarp (rimu, matai, miro) forest - unusual in this region as so much was destroyed by the Taupo eruption of 186AD and later by fires and the woodman's axe.
Opepe Southern walking Track: This track is situated on the southern side of SH5. Taking the track to the right from the car park you have the option of walking to a pitsaw pit and returning (20 minutes return) or continuing around the loop. Approximately 20 minutes past the pitsaw pit is an historic water trough and totara fence, relics of the old township. As you continue up the track to the site of Opepe township you cross the original Napier Taupo Road. At one time Opepe Township had a hotel, a store and several dwellings. The remains of water wells can still be seen.
An Armed Constabulary stockade, occupied from 1869 to 1885, was situated on the western escarpment.
Estimated size of the public land (in regional measurement standard: hectares, acres, kms, etc.): Unknown
Is there a trail system?: Yes
If there is a trail system, please describe length, terrain, etc.:
Northern side of highway - 45mins track, Southern sude of highway - 1hr 30mins track through bush, timber relics and old town and stockade site
What points of interest are there?:
Bush Walks, old relics of timber industry, pitsaw, water troughs, old buildings, fence posts.
What activities are available?:
Bush walking.
List of known hazards (cliffs, snakes, poison plants, etc.):
None.
Dogs Allowed?: Yes
Is a permit/fee required?: No
Please supply the website of the land if available: [Web Link]
Hours of accessibility?: Not listed
If a permit/fee is required please describe in detail how to get one, how much, etc.: Not listed
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Visit Instructions:
Visitors are encouraged to supply a picture of either themselves or their GPS at the trailhead and/or signage of the public access lands - describe your experience there and what you saw - tell us why other folks should come visit!
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