Urutawa Conservation Area

Located in the East Coast region

Located 14km south of Ōpōtiki, the Urutawa Conservation Area is predominantly semi coastal and contains a wide variety of threatened birds and special fauna.

Travelling from Ōpōtiki to Gisborne on State Highway 2, turn left onto Otara Road, and then onto Te Waiti Road, at the Te Waiti Bridge. The Te Waiti Nature Trail and Boulders Campsite are adjacent to this road. 

At the road end is the beginning of Te Waiti Track which leads directly into the Conservation Area and network of tracks and huts. There are alternate access points at Pakihi Road end or off the Motu Road.

The Urutawa Conservation Area includes both lowland forests of mainly rimu and tawa, and upland beech forests. Pockets of nikau palms are interspersed throughout the Conservation Area.

The area contains a wide variety of threatened birds such as whio or blue duck, weka, New Zealand falcon, and North Island brown kiwi. Other special fauna include the Hochstetter's frog, native fish and bats.

The historic Old Motu Road and Pakihi stock route run through the area. Both routes were essential transport links from Ōpōtiki to Gisborne before the road through the Waioeka Gorge was established.  The Pakihi Track follows the now disused stock route.