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.

There are two entry points, either from the signpost by the tea rooms or by the sign from Kahikatea Flat camping area, 300 metres down the unsealed road from the tea rooms.

Track

This loop track is graded for wheelchairs.

Flora

Some sizeable totara and kahikatea are present, especially prevalent on the bank at the far side of the walk, where their intricate root systems are on display.

Forests in the region are dominated by the podocarps such as totara, rimu, kahikatea, matai and miro. These forest giants pierce the canopy, which is generally formed by large leaved species like kohekohe, pukatea and karaka. Tawa, mahoe, titoki, putaputaweta and kamahi are also common. The sub canopy tends to be full of seedlings and pioneer species such as fuchsia, wineberry and kawakawa. Shady gullies are often lines with a plethora of tree ferns including the ‘Big Mamas’, mamaku. The tree fern’s penchant for moist gullies is especially evident from outside the forest when breaks in the vegetation allow examination of the forest composition. This verdant assemblage is furthermore woven with liana such as supplejack, kiekie and rata. Mosses, liverworts and lichens colonise bare surfaces to complete the picture of green.

Tawa (Beilschmiedia tawa) grows to 25 metres with a smooth, blackish trunk. The light green, narrow, willow-like leaves are complemented by dark purple plum-like fruits, produced in profusion. Maori made bird spears from the timber but for Europeans the lack of durability confined its use to dowelling, handles and furniture.