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Maungatautari Ecological Reserve

Maungatautari is truly unique place to visit – with 47kms of predator proof fence enclosing 3400 hectares in a sea of pastureland, it is the largest ecological island on mainland New Zealand. Maungatautari lies between the towns of Cambridge, Te Awamutu and Putaruru in the central North Island of New Zealand. It is the showcase of the project with "high quality metalled walking tracks,  an aviary to house transit wildlife and a forest canopy viewing tower." 

Soutern Enclosure  map - We took about one and half an hour to walk all the tracks in the map. We didn't visit Nothern Enclosure because there was a block (dam of lake Karapiro during contruction) on the way to the cnclosure. 

Double entry gate - The ecological island enclosure includes a number of double entry gates that ensure secure entry i.e. only one of the two gates can be opened at a time.  An alarm is triggered where there is any attempt to open both simultaneously.

Pest proof fence - The predator proof perimeter fence is constructed of 316 grade stainless steel mesh with an underground skirt which is designed to keep out predators as small as a mouse.  The  rolled hood prevents climbing animals from getting over the fence. 

At 10.00am on 31 August 2006 fifteen fencers on Maungatautari completed the final four metre section of the 47km  pest-proof fence around the forest edge of the mountain. It is the longest pest-proof fence ever built in New Zealand.

All are metalled walking tracks and suitable for family outings.

towering tall trees on the way.

towering tall trees on the way.

giant ganoderma(靈芝)

Informative plant identification signs along the tracks:

Towa and Scarlet Climbing Rata - Towa is a tall (up to 25m) forest tree with a spreading crwon. The climbing rata limbs by sending out short adventitious roots that adhere to the trunks of host trees.

Crown Fern is common throught Neew Zealand. 

The fern typically grows as a large clump or crown.

Mamaku is the tallest and fastest growing tree fern reaching as high as 20m with fronds up to 6m long ans 2m wide. It can be reconised by its thin, black trunk. 

Remu (red pine) - Mature remu can grow to 35m or more and is one of the most fraceful forest canopy trees. Good timber for furniture.

Supplejack

Pukatea is a tall (up to 36m), straight-trunked forest tree. 

Thry are easily reocnised at ground level by their buttressed roots.

Parataniwha - it's particularly noticeable for its large red-green leaves

Viewing Tower - The 16m high viewing tower was designed to provide a unique view of forest canopy and wildlife. It won an architectural award for its volunteer desinger Roger Williams. 

The viewing tower was valued at $150,000 when built in 2006.

viewing from the top

viewing from the bottom

James and Kelly busy for taking photos.

viewing from the tower

Aviary  - used to house new arrivals birds in transit

眾多大樹並各有特色

Mangakara Nature Walk

Pirongia Forest Park is best known for its most widely recognised landmark, Mt Pirongia (959 metres). This outstanding nature walk features some of the best forest in Pirongia Forest Park. It meanders through an ancient forest, with large rimu, kahikatea, tawa, pukatea and kohekohe and takes you to the beautiful Mangakara Stream before looping back. This walk is well suited to family outings. It provides a self-guided trail through attractive native forest.

這是一處有非常優美的自然步道 兩次攀登Mt Pirongia (959 metres 6 - 8 Hours) 因時間緊迫 都是擦身而過 這次Waitomo之行 回程正好可以造訪

map - The track descends from the car park to Mangakara Stream, doing a loop around the stream and then back along the

track to the car park.

elegant track - track well formed, with an even surface

There are sections of steps and boardwalk

tall trees along the way

 Numbered posts at points of interest:

Station 2 - a tawa log that fell during a storm and is going through a natural cycle of decay.

Station 3 - a large rimu and can grow to over 50m tall. The timber is excellent for furniture.

Station 4 - a kahikatea.This forest giant was here when Captain Cook visited New Zealand. NZ’s tallest native tree (it can grow to over 60m).

Station 6 - two entwined trees that look like one. It is in fact two trees - mahoe and kohekohe. They have grown so closely together that they now appear to be one.

Station 7 - a large boulder on the forest floor that appears well worn by flowing water, suggesting it was once part of a stream bed.

Station 9 - long black vines of the supplejack (or kareao), named by the crew of Captain Cook’s ship. ‘Supple’ because it bent in many directions, and ‘jack’ because it was useful for many tasks.

bridge cross over Mangakara Stream

Station 10 - colourful rocks (viewed from the bridge)  in the stream reflecting their volcanic origins. Algae and moss grow on many.

Station 11 - a pukatea with its distinctive buttresses and the reddish-brown roots of a rata descending down the rear side of the trunk

沿路還可以看到樹型各異的大樹....