Access

Pelorus Bridge is 9km west of Canvastown and 9km south of Rai Valley on SH6. Tawa Path and Waterfalls tracks are accessed from the parking area by the tea rooms. For other tracks it’s safer to park on the far side of SH6 as this is a busy road.

The start of the track is signposted on the opposite side of SH6 from the tea rooms parking area. There’s also a parking area on this side of the road so you don’t have to cross busy SH6.

Track

This wheelchair graded loop passes through more fine forest. Shortly after the start of the track there’s a detour to a shingle beach by the river.

At the apex of the corner there’s views up to Pelorus Bridge.

A further detour takes you alongside the river to Totara Flat Picnic Area (10 minutes one-way).

Just before the end of the track, look for the massive totara on the left.

Flora

This forest is dominated by a high canopy of totara with a sub-canopy of tawa. The understorey is mostly regenerating broadleaf species with kamahi, hinau, black beech and putaputaweta. Coprosmas form the shrub tier with pongas, five finger and horopito. The floor of ferns give a lush, yet open feel to the forest.

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