Marios Gavalas
Author And Researcher
I'm Marios, delivering the best of Aotearoa's nature walks to your device.
I've personally walked hundreds of New Zealand's tracks and spent months in libraries uncovering interesting information on New Zealand/Aotearoa. And you'll find a slice of that research on this page - enjoy!
approx 3 km return | 1 hour return
The pa is approximately 100 metres long and 50 metres wide, with two massive defensive ditches, the remains of which are still strikingly intact. Many rounded river boulders were used to bash fern roots and are scattered amongst the regenerating forest. Food pits are also seen as depressions in the forest floor.
1 km east of the Waitara River, opposite the entrance to Waitara on SH3, turn into Ngati Maru Road. After 4.4 km the road turns right at Tikorangi School and continues straight for 2 km to a sharp right hand bend. The start of the track is at the far end of the farm compound in front of you.
Cross the undulating paddocks over four stiles to the entrance of the reserve. You’re heading for the clump of native forest on the hill to your left.
Cross the stile into the reserve, where there are no formal tracks. The two formidable defensive ditches are as difficult to cross now as they would have been when the pa was inhabited. Minus, of course, the marauding warriors wielding spears.
Once on the central platform, the understorey is sparse, but the supplejack may provoke a few tussles.
The reserve now features a large number of kohekohe. Podocarps such as rimu and matai are also present with tawa and kamahi. These overtop ngaio, maire, mahoe, mapou, hangehange and tutu.
The pa was formerly occupied by Te Atiawa and taken by a war party of Ngati Ruanui, under chief Te Tuiti-moeroa. Taranaki tribes later attacked the pa causing Te Tuiti-moeroa to flee to the coast. He was later found and slaughtered, and act which spurred the revenge of Te Atiawa, who attacked and killed many Taranaki tribesman at Pekatu.
Feature | Value | Info |
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Organisation |
DOC TaranakiCentral government organisation |
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Location |
North Island ▷ Taranaki ▷ New Plymouth |
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