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 Rotorua carpark”). 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! If you have email send the report to: Enable JavaScript to view protected content. (Note: IBM compatible Word 2010 preferred).
Saturday 26th Jan – Mon 28 January Auckland Anniversary Weekend Trip - Turangi Area (Combined with Waikato Botanical Society)
Leader : Thomas Emmitt Enable JavaScript to view protected content.. or ph 07 878 1059 (wk) or 027 540 5762 (mob)
Meet: TBA. An itinerary will come out closer to the time with meeting times. You are welcome to join us for the day or for the weekend.
Grade : Easy-Medium
Accommodation: TBA. An itinerary will come out closer to the time with meeting times. You are welcome to join us for the day or for the weekend.
Bring : Food, bedding, clothes, sturdy footwear, $$ for accommodation and a hand lend. Please confirm attendance by 10th December as I need to book accommodation.
We don’t often get to botanise the southern tip of the Waikato Region so here is our opportunity. Likely sites are Lake Rotopounamu, the track to Ketetahi Hut and the Waihohonu Track.
Sunday 24 February – Arnolds Bush (Piarere) (Combined with Waikato Botanical Society
Leader : Mark Smale 027 8552240 Enable JavaScript to view protected content.
Meet : Piarere Hall. (on SH 29. 750 metres northeast of SH 1) at 10 AM
Grade : Easy
Arnolds Bush is a kahikatea forest remnant just off SH 29 at Piarere. It has been fenced for over 70 years and at 3.5 hectares is one of the best examples of its kind in the Waikato (most are less than 1 ha). We hope to compile a full species list.
Saturday 2 March – Mamaku wetlands
Leader : Sarah Beadel 07 345 5912 or 021‑924‑476; Enable JavaScript to view protected content.
Meet : The carpark Rotorua at 9am
Grade: Easty
Explore some of the Machaerina, manuka, Gleichenia wetlands on the Mamaku Plateau and look for orchids in flower.
Sunday 7 April – Athenree Saltmarsh and Wetland near Waihi Beach (Combined with Waikato Botanical Society)
Leader: Paul Cashmore 07 349 7432 (wk) or 027 650 7264; Enable JavaScript to view protected content.
Meet : The carpark Rotorua at 8am or Steele Rd DOC Athenree Wildlife Refuge Reserve Carpark (Turn right into carpark before you go over the Waiau River bridge) at 9:30am.
Grade :Medium
Bring: Gumboots for wetland/saltmarsh
This former grazed and drained wetland was gifted to DOC in early 2000s and has since been fully restored by DOC with the help of the local community group to now comprise a diverse range of freshwater wetlands and new and existing saltmarsh communities with an abundance of flora and wildlife present. This area being recently restored has not been visited by Botanical Societies before.
Sunday 12 May – Utuhina and Mangakakahi Walkways, Rotorua City
Leader: Chris Bycroft 021 394-096 Enable JavaScript to view protected content. (email preferred)
Meet: The carpark Rotorua 9am
Grade: Easy
We will walk-through a selection of the walking/cycling tracks alongside the two major stream systems of western Rotorua, Utuhina and Mangakakahi Streams. We will compile a plant species list. There will be a wider range of garden escape exotic plants present than a usual botanical society trip, but a good chance to see what is establishing in the western Rotorua gully systems.
Saturday 8 June - Piripai Spit, Whakatane
Leader: Sarah Beadel 07 345 5912 or 021‑924‑476; Enable JavaScript to view protected content.
Venue: The carpark Rotorua 8am or The Hub Whakatane at 9am
Grade: Easy
Explore sand dunes and see spinifex, pingao, Thornton kanuka and maybe katipo. Also a chance to see dwarf mistletoe if we can obtain access to the site where it occurs.
Monday 17 June – Annual General Meeting and Speaker
Venue: TBA
Time: 6pm.
Wine, juice, cheese and nibbles will be provided.
Following the meeting there will be a guest speaker. Lara Reynolds will talk on “Rare plant conservation in Hawaii”.
Sunday 7 July – Maungaongaonga Scenic Reserve, near Waiotapu
Leader : Martin Pearce 07 3491929 Enable JavaScript to view protected content.
Meet : The carpark Rotorua at 8.30 or 9.00 at Benny Bee Tearooms, Waiotapu 27km south of Rotorua
Grade : Medium/Hard
Walking up farmland to an area of native bush near a small geothermal field. We will skirt the edge of the geothermal area and head towards the summit to an area not visited by RBS before. There are no existing tracks so it will be off track.
Sunday 4 August - Glovers Farm, Waiohotu Rd, Fitzgerald Glade, Western Mamakus (combined with Waikato Botanical Society)
Leader: Jacqui Bond ph 021 1259 273, E-mail Enable JavaScript to view protected content.
Meet: The carpark Rotorua 8:15am or corner of Waiohotu Rd and SH 5 at 9am
Grade: Medium
We will explore the bush surrounding the Glover farm. This will include parts of the Kaimai-Mamaku Forest Park and the Selwyn Scenic Reserve. Highlights will be historic sites, old tracks, waterfalls and old tawa forests. An historical clearing in the middle of old forest gives climbing rata an opportunity to go wild!!
Saturday 7 September - Aongatete Forest, Kaimai-Mamaku Forest Park
Leader: Ann Graeme 07 5765593 Enable JavaScript to view protected content.
Meet: Carpark in Rotorua at 8am or Meet at the carpark at 9.30am at the top of Wright Road, which is on SH2 between Tauranga and Katikati.
Grade: Moderate
This will be a loop walk through lowland podocarp/ broadleaf forest to the river. Interesting plants include hard beech, orchids, king ferns, Lindsaea viridis and extensive areas of the moss, Dawsonia superba.
Saturday 5 - Sunday 6 October - Whangapoua, Coromandel QE 2 Covenant
Leader: Graeme Jane & Gael Donaghy 07 5703123 Enable JavaScript to view protected content. / Meg Graeme
Meet: TBA
Grade: TBA
Accommodation: TBA
Saturday 12 October - Okareka Mistletoe Restoration Project Weed Control/Plant Releasing Work Day
Leader: Paul Cashmore 07 349 7432 (wk) or 027 650 7264; Enable JavaScript to view protected content.
Meet : Cnr Summit and Loop Rds, Okareka (lake end) @ 8:45 AM
Grade : Activities suitable for all ages and abilities will be provided. This will include releasing our plantings from weed growth and doing further weed control.
Sunday 3 November – Toatoa Scenic Reserve, Motu Rd
Leader : Mike Butcher ph 07 3157160 / 0274 555610 email Enable JavaScript to view protected content.
Meet : Opotiki I-site/DOC office at 9:00am. Option of going over on Saturday night with accommodation.
Grade : Medium
A large forested scenic reserve high on the old Opotiki-Gisborne route (Motu Road). Rimu/tawa/tawari forest in the lower areas with hard beech/tawari and some toatoa on the ridges.
Sunday 1 December – Oruanui/Marotiri podocarp forest remnants, north Taupo (combined with Waikato Botanical Society)
Leader : Mark Smale 027 855 2240 Enable JavaScript to view protected content.
Meet : Junction of SH5 and Oruanui Rd at 10 am.
Grade : Easy
Remnants of former dense podocarp forest, some very substantial, mostly logged by the Taupo Totara Timber Co. at Mokai in the first half of last century. Huge lowland ribbonwood in places and plenty of cull and regenerating conifers.
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.
(* Ensure that there is at least one in your group.)