Access

9 km north of Pohangina along Pohangina Valley Road, turn right into Churchill Road, just after crossing Makiekie Creek. After 500 metres and a crossing of the Pohangina River, turn right into Totara Reserve. You pass toilets, children’s play areas and picnic benches on the way to Camp Rangi Woods. There’s a large parking area below the camp.

The main track network starts to the right of the camp and other tracks leave from the perimeter of the parade ground.

Track

The track network at Totara Reserve can be explored to devise a walk to suit you requirements. There’s no map or signs, but the network is compact enough for you to always find your way back.

Flora

The most notable feature of the forest is the number of large podocarps, including some massive totara. These rise in ecclesiastical columns and tower above the predominantly tawa canopy. The walks discover some notable specimens including a Siamese tree, one with a convoluted root system on the side of a bank and a giant near the roadside.

It is interesting to observe the forest in the aftermath of the 2004 storm, which ravaged much of the Manawatu. The fallen branches are now being converted back to humus by the forest floor organisms, which recycle the nutrients and provide soil for seedlings to emerge through the light wells.

Polynesian History

The totara was revered amongst Maori for its strength. They carved waka, built whare and carved food boxes from the hard wood.

European History

For early settlers, totara was the preferred wood for use in fence posts, power poles, railway sleepers and bridges. As it was resistant to the teredo worm, it also found favour in the construction of wharves.