Waitōtara Conservation Area

Located in the Manawatu/Whanganui region

The Waitōtara Conservation Area along with the Whanganui National Park forms the second largest area of lowland forest in the North Island.

Tall and majestic rimu, Hall’s tōtara, and northern rātā reach above a canopy dominated by tawa and kāmahi, while black beech forest clings to the sharp infertile ridge tops. While this area is mainly mature contiguous forest some large areas of scrub and regenerating forest provide reminders of futile settler attempts to establish farming.