RBS Trip Programme – 2025
**Please note: We would like intending participants to give the leader a call during the week before the trip. This will give the leader an idea of the party, and enable them to give you any last minute information. If the leader is not available contact Paul Cashmore 07 349-7432 (wk), or 027 650 7264.
The meeting place for all trips, unless otherwise stated, is the carpark between the Convention Centre and the Police Station, Fenton Street, Rotorua (hereinafter called “the carpark Rotorua”). We will carpool with a donation for petrol expenses for cars/boats to drivers please.
Reminder to trip leaders
Please remember to collect the first aid kit and PLB (Personal Locator Beacon) from Paul Cashmore or supply your own. You are also responsible for delegating the writing up of the trip report or writing it yourself and getting it to the editor within 4 weeks of the trip. A very brief report is much better than no report! Please email the report to: [Enable JavaScript to view protected content] (Note: Microsoft Word compatible preferred).
Sunday 2 February - Lintons Property, Te Matai Rd, between Rotorua and Te Puke
Leader: Graeme Jane & Gael Donaghy 07 5703123 [Enable JavaScript to view protected content]
Meet: The carpark Rotorua at Rotorua: 8.30am or Te Ranga School, Te Matai Rd (near Rangiuru Rd junction) at 9.30 am
Grade: Moderate to hard -= off track
The Linton Bothers properties are part of the “Kokako corridor” that is being created between Otanwainuku and the Mangorewa River near where it becomes the Paraiti River. The properties contain several covenants some of which include the cliffs into the Paraiti or its tributaries. The flatter parts have been logged and casually grazed in the past so have heavily modified tawa forest but most steeper gullies seem to harbour substantial populations of king fern. In a few areas near the gorges remnant unlogged forest remain.
Saturday 1 March – Mangapapa Conservation Area, Galaxy Rd nth, Mamaku (joint trip with Waikato Botanical Society)
Leader: Rob Fairley 021 024 77614 [Enable JavaScript to view protected content]
Meet: Meet at the car park in Rotorua at 8.30 am or at the junction of SH5 and Galaxy Rd at 9.15 am. Galaxy Rd is not marked on all maps but it crosses SH5 going both north and south. If coming from the Waikato it is around 1 km east of the Mamaku deer processing plant and if coming from the east it is 3 km west of the turnoff (Maraeroa Rd) to Mamaku township.
Grade: Moderate
The Mangapapa Conservation Area is located on the Mamaku plateau to the north of SH5. The easiest access is via Galaxy Rd north, a private forestry road off SH5. The area was logged for native timbers and a tramway ran from the Gammans mill at Mamaku township into the area. Later, in the 1980s, much of the area was clear felled and is now mostly in pine forest. Mangapapa was fortunately saved by pressure from John Nicholls and it became part of the DOC estate (brief history courtesy of Mark Smale).
The dominant canopy trees are red, silver, and hard beech with tawa, kamahi, and tāwari as other common canopy species. There are a number of wetlands within/adjacent to the area. The country is not steep but it can be challenging at times negotiating dense areas of supple jack and toropapa.
This trip depends on gaining permission to use Galaxy Rd and, if granted, where we go in the forest will additionally depend on whether we get key access or not. The intention is to look at some wetland areas as well as the beech forest.
Saturday 22 March – Mt Tarawera Wilding conifer pulling trip (Combined with Forest and Bird)
Leader: Paul Cashmore 07 349 7432 (wk) or 027 2051922 [Enable JavaScript to view protected content]
Meet: DOC Ashpit Road campground, Lake Rerewhakaaitu at 7:45 am.
Grade: Medium-Hard, and in particular, confidence in walking on steep mobile scoria slopes and along high and sharp ridges is needed.
Registration: Minimum age 14 years old. Maximum of 20 people on trip on a first come basis but must register first with Paul Cashmore by Monday 11 March at latest.
Cost: Free
Bring: Minimum 2 litres water, lunch and snacks, wet weather and warm gear, sun hat, sunblock, boots or sturdy shoes, gaiters and/or leggings an advantage for loose scoria, gloves for pulling out pines.
We will be driven to the top of Mt Tarawera by 4WD bus and vehicle to the crater rim and hear a bit about the history and ecological values of the mountain. We will be led by Ruawahia trustees and Rotorua Botanical Society with assistance from Kaitiaki Tours. This year we will cross the crater onto ‘the fan’ between Ruawahia and Wahanga domes with time to take in the flora, fauna and 360 degree views of the Bay of Plenty. We will then spend the rest of the day on the Tarawera ‘fan’ helping to handpull wilding conifer seedlings to assist the Ruawahia Wilding Conifer Project which aims to control the spread of wilding conifers in order to protect the unique values on the mountain.
Saturday 5 April – Moutohora (Whale Island) Combined with Eastern Bay Forest and Bird
Leader: Jo Bonner (0274 715 684) email: [Enable JavaScript to view protected content]
Meet: White Island Rendezvous Carpark- (time will be based on the tides details to follow)
Grade: Medium
Cost: $130.00- cost of the charter vessel. Ngati Awa Tourism have kindly kept the cost to this rate especially for us. Preference booking for those who were listed on previous years cancelled trips.
Transport: Charter boat Ngati Awa Tourism Ltd. (24 people max)
This trip is subject to weather, vessel availability and DOC approval. Interested members are asked to register, contact trip leader as numbers are limited. The hope is to explore an area on Moutohora, the Island has been regenerating from goat and rabbit predation, they were finally completely removed in 1985. The last botanical survey was completed in 1989- 90, which has informally been added to since. The goal would be to assess and record the transformation of the island biodiversity as the coastal forest matures back to its former state.
Saturday 12 April – Rotorua Botanical Society/Landcare Okareka Mistletoe Restoration Project Weed Control/Plant Releasing Work Day
Weed Control/Plant Releasing Work Day
Leader: Paul Cashmore 07 349 7432 (wk) or 027 2051922 [Enable JavaScript to view protected content]
Meet: Cnr Summit and Loop Roads, Okareka (lake end) next to start of mistletoe track @ 8:45 am-midday
Grade: Medium-Hard – Activities suitable for all ages and abilities will be provided. This will include releasing our plantings from weed growth and doing further weed control including handpulling, cutting and sawing of small vines, climbers and shrubs and ground covers.
Bring: sturdy shoes/boots, water, overalls or long trousers, (plus gardening gloves, pruners -otherwise provided)
Sunday 18 May – Uretara Island, Ohiwa Harbour
Trip Contact: Paul Cashmore 07 349 7432 (wk) or 027 2051922 [Enable JavaScript to view protected content]
Trip Leader: Stuart Slade (Nukuhou Saltmarsh Care Group)
Meet: Meet at Rotorua carpark 8am or Ohope Spit boatramp, opposite Ohope Golf Course, at 9.30am to depart at 10.00 am.
Boat transport: subject to weather, and vessel availability nos will be limited to 16 with preference given to RBS members and those with reasonable botanical skills. RSVP to Trip leader by 8 May. A gold coin donation towards outboard fuel would be appreciated.
Grade Medium (wet feet landing and exiting the island from the dinghies)
We will get transported by boat for the short distance to the island and guided by members of the Nukuhou Saltmarsh Care Group who undertake plant and animal pest control on the island. Uretara island is comprised of mainly old growth secondary kanuka dominated forest with pockets of pohutukawa forest, saltmarsh and wetland present. Several threatened species have been recorded on the island including Adelopetalum tuberculatum and previously Pimelea tomentosa. We will have limited time on the island due to working around tides which are high at 11:18am. We expect to leave the island by 2.00pm.
Monday 9 June - Annual General Meeting and Short Presentations from Members
Venue : TBC
Time : 6 pm
Cheese and other finger-food, wine and juice will be provided.
Following the meeting there will be a range of short talks from members on interesting recent botanising they have been up to.
Interesting places, with interesting plants.
Please bring a max ten slides, and/or ten minutes, so please register with secretary if you would like to give a short presentation.
Saturday 14 June – Otamarakau Dunes and Wetlands
Leader : Sarah Beadel 021‑924‑476; [Enable JavaScript to view protected content]
Meet: Rotorua carpark at 8 am or Otamarakau carpark at 9am
Grade: Easy to Moderate
Trip 4 to the Matatā-Otamarakau Dunes. Enjoy an early winter’s day, hopefully in the sun, exploring the dunes eats of the Otamarakau car park. There are wetlands (including Machaerina articulata, raupō, and Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani), low dune vegetation (spinifex, Muehlenbeckia, Ficinia nodosa, Lachnagrostis billardierei, Carex pumila, and Oxalis rubens), and there may be some Kunzea toelkenii (Thornton kanuka, a local threatened endemic) which we saw in 2023 just to the east of the area we will be exploring in 2025. Other species to look out for include native Zoysia pauciflora and possibly Poa billardierei.
Sunday 6 July – Pokere (Tablelands QEII Covenant)
Leader: Hori Barsdell ph 027 6348958 Email [Enable JavaScript to view protected content]
Meet: Rotorua carpark 7am or 9am at 729 Tablelands Road, Opotiki.
Grade: Medium
A 14ha semi coastal forest remnant, one of the first QEII covenants in the Ōpōtiki district protected in 1988. Dominant species include tawa, porokaiwhiri, pūriri, kohekohe, pukatea, rewarewa, kamahi, tanekaha. Kahikatea, miro, titoki, northern rata, and hard beech (which are dying and hopefully someone can tell me why) are also present as well as Peperomia. Please clean your boots thoroughly as we’re trying to keep out Selaginella (African club moss).
Sunday 3 August - Tunnicliffes Track, SH 30, Rotomas
Leader: Bill Clark 07-3228401, 021 08977261
Meet: Rotorua carpark 9am or track entrance on Rotomas SH 30 at 9:45am -Bill will be by roadside 100m either side of track entrance. (Carpooling helpful as limited parking and if you don’t know where track entrance is caropool with someone who does as its not marked)
Grade: Easy
In the early 1950’s the Tunnicliffe Timber Co. undertook logging operations in the area. The first kilometre is through untouched Scenic Reserve with mature rimu/tawa etc then into the logged area which is a prime example of regenerating bush around 60-70 years after logging.
Saturday 13 September – Waipapa Dam Cycle Trail South (joint with WBS)
Leader : Angela McQuillan 021 239 2554 [Enable JavaScript to view protected content]
Meet: Rotorua carpark at 9am or 10.15am Waipapa Dam
Grade: Medium
After gathering at the Waipapa Dam, we will botanise the purpose built section of Waipapa, Waikato River Trail heading south parallel to river. Likely to be regenerating secondary broadleaved forest (including whauwhaupaku, kotukutuku, mahoe, and tree ferns) with scattered podocarps such as tanekaha and totara. If there are suitable cliffs away from frost, we could look for taurepo (Rhabdothamnus solandri).
Sunday 5 October – Western Mokaihaha Ecological Area, Mamaku Plateau (Joint with WBS)
Leader: Paul Cashmore 07 349 7432 (wk) or 027 2051922 [Enable JavaScript to view protected content]
Meet: Meet at Rotorua carpark 8:15am or 9:30am at very end of Galaxy Rd south (off Mossop Rd) , Kinleith
Grade: Medium
Mokaihaha Ecological Area is the last remaining large remnant of the substantially unmodified rimu dominated forests formerly present on the Mamaku Plateau. Comprised of mostly rimu/matai-tawa-kamahi forest, rimu is the commonest podocarp, but miro, matai and kahikatea are fairly frequent throughout. The largely flat to rolling reserve also contains a nationally significant North island kokako population and receives ongoing pest control from DOC and the Moikahaha Trust, whom will accompany and guide us using existing pest control lines in the reserve for our visit.
Saturday 18 October - Rotorua Botanical Society/Landcare Okareka Mistletoe Restoration Project Weed Control/Plant Releasing Work Day
Leader: Paul Cashmore 07 349 7432 (wk) or 027 2051922 [Enable JavaScript to view protected content]
Meet: Cnr Summit and Loop Roads, Okareka (lake end) next to start of mistletoe track @ 8:45 am-midday
Grade: Medium-Hard – Activities suitable for all ages and abilities will be provided. This will include releasing our plantings from weed growth and doing further weed control including handpulling, cutting and sawing of small vines, climbers and shrubs and ground covers.
Bring: sturdy shoes/boots, water, overalls or long trousers, (plus gardening gloves, pruners -otherwise provided)
Saturday 1 - Sunday 2 November – East Cape revisited
Trip Contact: Paul Cashmore 027 2051922 [Enable JavaScript to view protected content]
Trip Leader: Clarke Koopu, 0272329960 [Enable JavaScript to view protected content]
Meet: TBC
Grade: Moderate-hard
Accommodation: TBC
Bring: TBC
Exact location TBC but expect another weekend away exploring native forest ecosystems on maori land with the assistance of local landowners.
Friday 28 November - Sun 30 November – Pohokura (private land south of Whirinaki, north of Napier-Taupo highway)
Leaders: Rhys Burns 027-2051939; [Enable JavaScript to view protected content]
Meet: Rotorua on Fri at pm (time and place TBC); vehicles with high clearance best (4WD). About a 2 hour drive from Rotorua, about half on gravel roads.
Bookings: You will need to book in with Rhys at least 4 weeks prior (1 November) so he can arrange permits, please send him the following details - drivers name and drivers licence, make, model, number plate and color of vehicle, insurance details. And let him know how many spaces free in your vehicle.
Grade: Easy-medium
Accommodation: Some limited bunk accommodation in 2 huts, otherwise plenty of space for tents. Limited cooking facilities are available in the hut (gas stove top), along with some pots, pans and cutlery, but it may pay to bring your own cooking equipment and gas.
Bring: sleeping bag, food for 2 days (2 nights), tent, air mattress (if required)
Description: Previously known as Pine Milling, this is a very large private block consisting of 12,000 ha of beech forest, rivers, frost flats and subalpine shrubland. The frost flats are mainly fire-induced, but substantial areas of Taupo pumice have also created the conditions to develop this habitat. Since the current owner took possession over 20 years ago there have been a variety of conservation actions to improve the ecological condition of the block. The area also receives occasional aerial 1080 operations courtesy of Ospri. A substantial population of several hundred Pittosporum turneri has responded to this control by maturing from juvenile to adult foliage, with accompanying flowering and fruiting, and new specimens of beech-hosted Peraxilla mistletoes are constantly being discovered. There are also many waterways, ecotone shrubland, and some wetlands and bluffs to explore. An area of frost flat to protect P. turnerii has also been deer fenced to protect the area from ungulate browse, so a comparison of these browsed and unbrowsed areas could be worthwhile. This area was botanised by the Society in 2000 (see newsletter number 38), and both Sarah Beadel and Willie Shaw have botanised the area extensively. We are aiming for this trip to try to cover some of the gaps in these records, with an emphasis on trying to discover flowering orchids and some wetland species that should be more prevalent at this time of the year. There are however several options that we can be quite flexible about the areas people are interested in botanising. For convenience, most sites we will be botanising can be accessed by driving, but the terrain can quickly become very rough off-track. Bird life includes kakariki, falcon, rifleman, fernbird and whio. We may hear kiwi calling at night.
Schedule: Friday: arrive in evening. sort accommodation and gear. Saturday: botanise the immediately adjacent frost flat areas containing coral lichens, orchids and the threatened Pittosporum turneri.
Sunday: Different trips continue to botanise the extensive frost flats, while others can explore forest areas and bluffs.
Climate: we will be camping at the lowest altitude part of Pohokura (700m asl), so be prepared for both hot and freezing conditions, sunny or very wet. We are camping in a frost flat area so it could be very cold even at this time of year. The site gets many days of severe frost each year, as well as snow in most winters. The huts/camping area is immediately adjacent to the river, so there is swimming if the weather is warm in freezing water!
SUGGESTED EQUIPMENT FOR DAY TRIPS
Lunch, drink, waterproof parka, warm hat, sturdy shoes or boots, sunblock, hand lens, note book, pen & pencil, first aid kit*, compass, GPS, map, whistle, aerial photos, plant species lists, money for driver’s petrol expenses.