Located in Puketitiri area in the Hawke’s Bay region
Time: 20 min
The reserve entrance and picnic area is adjacent to the DOC Puketitiri Field Base.
There is a pleasant 20 minutes grassed loop walk through open forest and clearings, including groves of cabbage trees.
Time: 10 - 40 min
With picnic shelters at the reserve entrance as well as a large grassed area, toilets and water this is a good walk for families.
There is no better place in Hawke’s Bay to experience a lowland podocarp forest than Balls Clearing Scenic Reserve, located 5 km from Puketitiri along the Pakaututu Road. There is a 800 metre stretch of track suitable for people using wheelchairs.
This outstanding example of dense virgin podocarp forest is best seen from the network of walking tracks that vary in time from 10 to 40 minutes. Photography, birdwatching and natural history studies are appropriate activities here. It's also a good place to view our native nocturnal long tailed bat.
Time: 45 min
Little Bush refers to the smaller area of native forest remaining from the extensive logging operations and fires. This contrasts with Ball’s Clearing Forest which was earlier referred to as Big Bush. It is a private reserve, open to the public at all times. Access is off Little Bush Road, off Puketitiri Road.
A 45 minute circular track passes through the regenerating forest of abundant ferns, climbers and native orchids. The low forest canopy enables rewarding bird watching. The more common birds are tui and piwakawaka (fantail) but also present are korimako (bellbird) and kereru (wood pigeon).
Time: 20 min to 1 hr
Keep a look out for the directional roadside sign 6 km past Patoka on the left. The network of tracks ranging from 20 minutes to a one hour walk gives a good insight into the varied regenerating vegetation.
The reserves are all located off Puketitiri Road, at Puketitiri, one hour's drive from Napier. They are all near to Kaweka Forest Park.
No fires or camping allowed in the reserves.
| Ahuriri / Napier Office | |
| Phone: | +64 6 834 3111 |
| Fax: | +64 4 471 1117 |
| Email: | napier@doc.govt.nz |
| Address: |
59 Marine Parade Napier 4110 |
| Postal Address: |
PO Box 644 Napier 4140 |
| Full office details | |
