2025 Field Trips

Day trips to locations in the Wellington region are usually held on the first Saturday of each month.   Extended excursions are usually held at New Year, first weekend in February and Easter.

The following programme is SUBJECT TO CHANGE.   If you wish to join a Saturday trip, please tell the trip leader on the Thursday p.m. at the latest, or if you wish to join an over-night trip, please tell the trip leader on the Wednesday p.m. at the latest, so that the leader can:
•   contact our hosts, if we are visiting a private area, to confirm the visit,
•   print enough copies of a plant species list, if one has been prepared for the site.

Remember the weather can be changeable on field trips.   Sun hat, balaclava, waterproof / windproof parka, may all be used on a day trip.

If a field trip has to be postponed because of bad weather or other reason, it will happen the following Saturday, or a later Saturday.   Please re-check our web site for updates or ask the trip leader.

Non-members are welcome to join us on our field trips.

Click here to get more information about attending field trips and recommended trip gear.

2025 Programme

18–26 January 2025 :   Summer Camp – St Arnaud

• Base camp:   NZDA Red Deer Lodge, St. Arnaud https://www.nzdanelson.co.nz/red-deer-lodge.   Breakfasts & lunches will be prepared by BotSoccers on a roster system.   Dinners and deserts will be catered by Alpine Lodge.   Vegetarians, dairy-free and vegan catered for – if you have other special dietary needs, please make your own arrangements.
• Accommodation:   Bunk-rooms, $27.75 per person/night, no camping arrangement at Red Deer Lodge.
• Transport:   Participants to arrange their own transport to and from camp.   Transport may be available from Bus Stop / Train station / Airport nearest St Arnaud - please indicate if you need this on the registration form.
• Booking:   Booking ESSENTIAL as room for only 28 at the lodge.   Book early!   Preference will be given to members of Wellington BotSoc.   Please either download registration form here for pdf version, or here for doc version, or print the registration form at the end of the September newsletter.   Please email your completed form to botsocsummercamp (at) gmail.com by 25 November.
• Deposit:   $490.00 per person to be paid at time of registration by internet banking.   At the end of the trip, depending on the final cost, you will be sent an invoice (or a refund) for the full cost less your original payment.   Student scholarships available - for details see September newsletter.
• Contact:   Email botsocsummercamp (at) gmail.com.

Saturday 1 February:   Field trip – Kaiwaru Wetlands, Waikanae

These degraded wetlands in Waikanae Park require significant restoration effort   Dominant native species: kānuka canopy with individual kohekohe, mataī and pukatea.   The wetland, dominated by exotics, is one of two known Kāpiti mainland sites containing Nationally Critical tirauriki / Korthalsella salicornioides hosted on mānuka and kānuka.   If time permits we will also visit Russell Reserve, a small area of kohekohe-tītoki forest, a habitat type uncommon in Foxton Ecological District and which is much reduced in Wellington region.   It provides habitat for kererū and large-leaved milk tree, Streblus banksii, an At-Risk Relict.   The site is also partly protected as Recreation Reserve.

• Map:   Street map; NZTopo50-BP32 Paraparaumu.
• Meet:   10 a.m. in front of Wrestling Club off Park Ave, Waikanae Park, or 9.30a.m. at Waikanae Station to collect people arriving by train.   From here we travel in convoy,   Train: 8.14a.m.   Kāpiti line train from Wellington Station to Waikanae Station.
• Co-leaders:   Andy McKay, phone 027 555 5653; and Anne Tuffin, phone 027 457 6234.

Saturday 1 March:   Field trip – Johnston Hill Scenic Reserve, Karori

Botanise this 33.5 ha regenerating native forest with some plantings.   Managed by WCC and subject to pest control since 2001 by GWRC.   Botanise forest along loop track network, with side track to the summit, 360m, with panoramic views.   Leader will e-mail species list to registrants.

• Map:   Street map; NZTopo 50-BQ31 Wellington.
• Meet:   9.30 a.m. at car park.   Bus: No. 2 Karori bus – alight in Marsden Village.   Walk 15 minutes via Hatton St to car park at top end.   Driving: Park in Johnson's Reserve carpark, accessible from the end of Hatton St.
• Leader:   Kate Jordan, phone 027 899 0018; Co-leader: John Barnett, phone 021 063 1590.

Saturday 5 & Sunday 6 April:   Field trips – Western Lake Road.   Te Rātā, Pirinoa, Wairarapa

Day 1: Western Lake Road
Botanise this prospective Forest and Bird reserve towards the coastal end of Western Lake Rd.   The property is a small valley descending from a ridge to the road.   It is a steep narrow gully at the top, which then fans out into paddocks by the road.   The land is Wairarapa plain raised by a nearby fault, so is loose aggregate prone to erosion.   It was probably cleared about 100 years ago – then allowed to return to a cover of mainly black beech and kānuka on the slopes.   It is now forest with good understorey and a number of interesting and unusual herbaceous plants, e.g., Pelargonium inodorum and Drymoanthus adversus.   There is no formed track – bring stout shoes.

• Meet:   9.30 a.m. cnr of SH2 and Moore St which continues, becoming Western Lake Rd.   We will travel in convoy from here.
• Accommodation:   Camp: Two options (1) Ocean Beach: Camping in DOC campsite (check if open; closed in 2024), 3 tent sites behind Sunita’s bach, 4 bunks inside bach; (2) Gateway Motel & Holiday Park – motel/cabins/tent sites, 110 Lake Ferry Rd, Cape Palliser, Lake Ferry.   Ph: 06 307 7780, https://gatewaymotelholidaypark.co.nz.
• Meals:   Dinner: Pot luck.   Breakfast: Bring your own.
• Co-leaders:   Eleanor Burton, phone 021 0588 324; and Pat McLean, phone 027 4066 767.

Day 2: Te Rātā Bush Covenant, Pirinoa
Botanise Te Rātā Bush QE2 covenant.   Visit a kahikatea–pukatea (WF8) critically endangered lowland forest remnant near Pirinoa.   Te Rātā Bush is a good example of mature lowland swamp forest with a kahikatea, pukatea, swamp maire and nīkau canopy.   It is a small remnant in an area of intensive farming.

• Meet:   9.30 a.m. Pirinoa.   From there we will ride-share and travel in convoy to Te Rātā Bush.   Leave: No later than 3pm.
• Co-leader:   Owen Spearpoint, phone 027 285 8083, or email owen.spearpoint (at) gw.govt.nz.

Saturday 3 May:   Field trip – Lake Papaitonga

Botanise a lowland forest remnant around Lake Papaitonga.   This is the only lowland lake in Horowhenua with its forest and other vegetation intact.   Forest is coastal dune forest, with swamp species such as kahikatea.   There are also scrub and wetland areas though access to these may be limited.   The DOC website warns that the track is rough and slippery – bring good footwear.

• Map:   NZTopo50-BN33 Levin.
• Meet:   9.30 a.m. Waikanae Station, north end car park, from where we will travel in convoy sharing transport.
• Leader:   Eleanor Burton, phone 021 0588 324

Saturday 7 June:   Field trip – Redwood Bush heights and beyond

The trip begins with a loop through hillside kohekohe-tawa forest with a healthy understorey and big pūkatea in the gullies.   It rises through māhoe-māpou forest to a ridge overlooking Churton Park.   From the high point, there is the option to return to the road, with total walking of 1–2 hours (botanising extra).   Or, for the adventurous, there is a second loop where the exploring is arguably better than the botany and there are views over Ōhariu Valley to Mākara wind farm and the South Island beyond.   The second loop is an extra 1–2 hours walking.   The tracks of both loops are uneven, steep, and muddy in places, poorly marked and exposed at their high points.   Bring food, drink, appropriate footwear and clothing, and a fully-charged mobile phone for emergency contact.   The recent book Redwood Bush Tawa by Gil Roper is a fulsome account of the area.

• Map:   Street map & NZTopo50-BQ31 Wellington.
• Meet:   Meet: 9.30 a.m. at Redwood Bush entrance next to 10 Peterhouse St, Tawa.   If driving, it may be easier to park above the one-way parts of Peterhouse St.   Train: 9.14 train on Kāpiti Line from Wellington Station to Takapu Rd Station.   Contact trip leaders if you need a ride from Takapu Rd Station.
• Leaders:   Leon Perrie, phone, 027 419 1378, email email leon.perrie (at) tepapa.govt.nz; and Lara Shepherd, email lara.shepherd (at) tepapa.govt.nz

Saturday 5 July:   Field trip – Porirua Scenic Reserve: Te Ara Utiwai

Opened in 2018, the walking/cycling track of Te Ara Utiwai winds up the hillside of Porirua Scenic Reserve.   It passes through areas of mature tawa-kohekohe forest and regenerating māhoe-māpou, with native plantings on the lower slopes.   The track is easy, there is plenty to see in the forest, and it may only be the speedy who complete the 6 km distance and 300 m climb to the lookout near “The Hub”.   We’ll return the way we came.

• Map:   Street map & NZTopo50-BP31 Porirua.
• Meet:   Meet: 9.30 a.m. at the public carpark off Raiha St., just north-east of Camp Elsdon.   The car-park is small but there is plenty of parking in Raiha St.   If catching the train, contact the trip leaders if you require a ride from Porirua Station.   Train: 8.44 train on Kāpiti Line from Wellington Station to Porirua Station.
• Leaders:   Leon Perrie, phone 027 419 1378, email email leon.perrie (at) tepapa.govt.nz; and Lara Shepherd, email lara.shepherd (at) tepapa.govt.nz.

Saturday 12 July:   Field trip – Te Marua Bush, Upper Hutt

The combined Upper Hutt F&B and Wellington Botsoc work party at the Te Marua Bush has been postponed - the weather forecast is poor, there is little work to do, and finally we have had an offer from GWRC of another piece of land (about 0.5km away) that we can use. We will move the work party date to include an on-site visit to this new location so we can make decisions on future plans.

Background: we are running out of work - both planting and maintenance at the Te Marua Bush. This has affected the numbers turning out and there need to be some thought as to where we go from here. GWRC has relinquished the grazing leases over their lands which have been left to run out so this piece of land has recently become available.

Future meeting: A meeting will be called when we have organised the event - hopefully in the next few weeks.

• Maps:   NZTopo50-BP32 Paraparaumu; street map.
• Co-Leaders:   Glennis Sheppard, phone 526 7450;   Sue Millar, phone 526 7440.

Saturday 2 August:   Field trip – Centennial Park, Miramar

Botanise along the extensive network of tracks in this fascinating reserve of regenerating, semi-coastal native forest; some plantings.   See kiekie - a marker of what Dr Geoff Park classed as a ‘primary forest remnant’

• Maps:   street map; NZTopo50-BQ31 Wellington.
• Meet:   10.06 a.m. at bus terminus, Darlington Rd.   Car drivers: please wait at bus terminus to take bus users to north end of Darlington Rd – park entrance.   Bus: No. 2 Miramar: Karori Pk, 9.10; Sup. Ct. / Lambton Quay 9.28, Ct. Pl. 9.38, Kilbirnie Stop A 9.49a.m.
• Leader:   Eleanor Burton, phone 021 0588 324, email esmeraldadoris93 (at) gmail.com.

Saturday 6 September:   Field trip – Innes Bush, Wainuiomata

Botanise a 38-hectare area of covenanted native bush, one of the largest private areas of protected conservation land close to Wellington.   See 80-year-old regenerating bush, with large rimu and beech trees that were spared from historic felling.   Also kāmahi on the higher areas and relict rimu, tōtara, miro and large black beech with a preponderance of kiekie / Freycinetia banksii on the wet gully floor and lower contours.

• Map:   NZTopo50-BQ32 Lower Hutt & street map.
• Meet:   9.30 a.m. at 353 Moores Valley Rd. Travel via Wainuiomata Rd to intersection with Main Rd, next to Moores Valley Rd turn-off, then to end of road to no. 353.   Train: 8.35 a.m. train on Hutt Line from Wellington Station to Waterloo Stn—ask one of leaders to meet you on east side of station.
• Co-leaders:   Laura Girvan-West, phone 021 583 934, email wellingtonbotsocsecretary (at) gmail.com; and Paul Bell-Butler, phone 021 126 9088, email paul.bellbutler (at) vuw.ac.nz.

Saturday 11 October:   Field trip – Puffer Track, Kaitoke

NOTE: Date postponed from the originally advertised programme
Last visited by Wellington Botanical Society in 2011, the Puffer track passes through a variety of habitats from scrub to beech forest. We should see some orchids in flower, sundews and maybe Kirk’s daisy and Alseuosmia in flower.   Initially, the track from the car park has some large steps until the old puffer ridge and good benched track is reached, but botanists travel slowly. We’ll go as far as we feel like and return.

• Map:   NZTopo50-BP32 Paraparaumu.
• Meet:   8.50 a.m. at the Upper Hutt Railway station car park.   Or Meet: 9.30 at the car park for the Dobson Loop Track.   Turn off State Highway 2 onto Marchant Road (signposted just beyond the Pakuratahi River Bridge) at the YMCA Camp Kaitoke turnoff.   Near the end of Marchant Road, turn right into Kiwi Ranch Road.   The carpark is located on the left, approximately 500 m along Kiwi Ranch Road.   Train: 8.05 a.m. Hutt Line train Wgtn Station to Upper Hutt Station.   Contact the leader to advise your transport.
• Co-leaders:   Michele Dickson, phone 022 635 0193, email micheledickson21 (at) gamil.com; and Mick Parsons, phone 027 249 9663, email parsonsroad (at) gmail.com.

Saturday 15-16 November:   Field trip – Hiwinui Forest Park

[note the date change from the usual WBS field trip weekend]
Hiwinui Forest Park is owned by Greater Wellington and is predominantly plantation forest.   However, there are also a number of areas of remnant native forest.   These range from 10s of square meters to several hectares.   The Park backs onto the Aorangi Forest Park at its north-western limit, and ranges in altitude from Ngaio-titoki forest in the valley floor (250 meters) to silver – red beech forest at 600m.   There are fantastic views of the lower Ruamahanga valley, Wairarapa moana, and Remutaka Range so bring your camera.
There are forestry roads throughout the park, and logging may dictate what parts of the forest we can access.   However, two thirds of the plantation have been harvested so there will be plenty to explore. Bring your hand lens.
Camping Saturday night:
There is a large flat grassy paddock in the valley floor with isolated trees where we can camp and a portaloo will be available.   There is a stream adjacent, but please bring water for drinking and cooking.   Bring one breakfast meal, one dinner meal, two lunches, snacks, and hot drinks.   It could be cool so a thermos could be a good idea.
What to Bring:
Footwear needs to provide ankle support and sturdy enough to cope with stream walking and rough terrain.   Bring clothing for all conditions from wet and cold to hot and sunny.   A thermal layer cloves and beanie.   Waterproof parka and windproof leggings, sunhat, and sun cream.

• Map:   NZTopo50-BQ32 Lower Hutt & street map.
• Meet:   9.30 a.m. at 353 Moores Valley Rd.   Travel via Wainuiomata Rd to intersection with Main Rd, next to Moores Valley Rd turn-off, then to end of road to no. 353.   Train: 8.35 a.m. train on Hutt Line from Wellington Station to Waterloo Stn—ask one of leaders to meet you on east side of station.
• Leaders:   Owen Spearpoint, phone 027 285 8083, email owen.spearpoint (at) gw.govt.nz ; and Laura Girvan West, phone 027 583 934, email laura.west (at) gw.govt.nz.

Thursday 4 December and Saturday 6 December: Evening and morning Field Trips – Rātā-viewing walks, Lower Hutt

A casual 3.5-km 2-hour stroll through suburban Lower Hutt to see flowering rātā and other native trees in the streets and gardens.   The walk will begin and end at Woburn Station, so we encourage public transport use.

• Meet:   Carpark on east side of Woburn Station.   The walk will be held as an after-work event on Thursday 4 December, 6 p.m.   and Saturday 6 December morning: 9.30 a.m.   Train: Thursday 5.35 p.m. Hutt Valley line from Wellington to Woburn. Saturday 9.05 a.m. Hutt Valley line Wellington to Woburn.
• Leader: John Barnett, phone 021 063 1590, email johnbarnett (at) inspire.net.nz.

2026 Programme

16–23 January 2026 :   Summer Camp – Pureora Forest, Waikato

This year we are heading to Waikato to visit Pureora Forest Park and the surrounding area.   It is known for its outstanding remnants of ancient Podocarp forest & is home to the elusive Pua o Te Rēigna / Dactylanthus taylorii & Kōkako / Callaeas wilsoni.   Possible field trips: Mt Titiraupenga, sections of the Timber Trail, QEII Covenants & more to come.

• Base camp:   Pureora Forest Lodge https://www.pureoraforestlodge.org.nz/.   Breakfasts & lunches will be prepared by BotSoccers on a roster system.   Dinners and deserts will be catered.   Vegetarians, dairy-free and vegan catered for — if you have other special dietary needs, please let us know and we may be able to accommodate them.
• Accommodation:   $20/person/night; bunking / camping.
• Transport:   Participants to arrange their own transport to and from camp.   Transport may be available from Bus Stop / Train station / Airport nearest SPureora Forest Lodge - please indicate if you need this on the registration form.
• Booking:   Booking ESSENTIAL and by 25 November.   Book early!   Preference will be given to members of Wellington BotSoc.   The Registrations Google form is available here.
• Deposit:   $490.00 per person to be paid at time of registration by internet banking.   At the end of the trip, depending on the final cost, you will be sent an invoice (or a refund) for the full cost less your original payment.
• Contact:   Email botsocsummercamp (at) gmail.com.