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Hi all,
Can anyone advise if access to Whirinaki is possible without an access permit from the Rotorua forestry Co?
Used to go in there years ago and just drove it to the start of the track. But I have a feeling I read you have to get an access permit to drive in now?
Cheers M
Yes that would be the easiest but that won’t open till opening of bird shooting season. I used to go in via Minginui and up South Road then onto Main Rd and access the tracks that way. You also used to be able to come in via the Waipunga. Those options we used to use using a DOC permit for Whirinaki. Not sure if it’s still the same talk to Rotorua or Murupara DOC.
I use the Waipunga but I guess it depends on what part you are heading into. i think they have installed electronic gates to stop people going through the pines.
Tried calling Doc Murupara today.
They excelled as per usual.
The 07 number advertised on the website is no longer connected.
The 0800 no one answers. Rang it twice. Gave up the first time after god knows how long in a queue.
2nd time waited on speaker while working to eventually be cut off.
None the wiser.
I used to go in via pine milling road well before Minginui.
Sounds like that’s no longer possible?
Go down Minginui Rd, turn right onto river rd, then when over the bridge turn left and continue down river rd to the carpark. This unsealed road follows the Whirinaki river and several hiking/hunting tracks lead off it. Pretty sure this is all public land with no access permits required.
Awesome thanks, will head in early tomorrow for a look.
It is public access but I think you still need a DOC permit, ease to get and better to have a permit than not.
Sure Mooseman always get a DOC hunting permit. I was referring more about a Rotorua Forestry access
permit, which is not required up River Rd to my knowledge. I haven't hunted here personally but fish it a bit and always see plenty of deer sign.
Just came out from Plateau Rd car park via Minginui. No access permit needed if going in from Waipunga or Minginui as it’s a public easement
Almost needed traffic lights at Pukahunui, Matakuhia and Plateau car parks earlier in the Roar :o
Thanks for your help gents. Made it in no problem via Minginui as per instructions.
Seemed a much longer way in rather than the way I used to go in, where we turned off before Murapara. I guess more direct, and I recall very long straight private roads we used to fly down.
Nimrod, I can imagine numbers. Even on the Saturday, we bumped into a few guys/vehicles on the way in and out.
Pig hunters, motorbikes, and a couple very dodgy looking locals that could have been Madmax extras.
Aside from that, enjoyed being back in there, had a good poke around, has changed a lot as expected. No Plateau or Matakuhia huts. They were there when we first started hunting it, but were destroyed fairly on in my time there.
We’d rarely see another sole in there then. Saw more on Saturday than 5 years of hunting there 25 - 30 years ago.
Beautiful native. I was astounded at the Keruru in there, we saw flocks of them flying around, 30-40 birds. Never seen anything like it.
I used google earth to find an area to hunt with some slips and open faces. Took the GE cord’s and put them into the gps, worked a treat. Didn’t see anything but the young fella loved it.
Will be back.
Cheers M