Oporua Floodway

South Wairarapa, Wairarapa, New Zealand

Access to Lake Wairarapa along top of stopbank

Beginner

Bike and Foot

This is a gravel farm-track along the top of a stopbank to the eastern shores of Lake Wairarapa. There are seven gates to pass through - leave each of them as you find them. At the end there is a turning area for cars and parking, and after crossing a paddock (which can be boggy after rain) you reach Lake Wairarapa near the remains of a wooden hide (no shelter possible).

It is possible to walk along the grassy bank beside the lake for about 1 km towards Featherston. It is pleasant on a sunny day, but the area is exposed and it can be awful on a windy and wet day. The lake itself is shallow and boggy.

Gravel road leading towards lake shore

Travelling from Featherston towards Marinborough, turn right off SH53 on to Kahutara Road (signposted to Lake Ferry). There is no longer any sign for Oporua floodway when driving south. About 18 km down Kahatura Road look for a pair of flood gates (usually locked open) before the road takes a dip. There is another pair of flood gates about a few hundred metres south (with a sign for Oporua floodway visible if you are travelling north) near Parera Road. Beside the northern set of gates there is a gravel road leading on to the top of the stop bank and first of the 7 gates (the gravel road does a "Y" as it emerges from the top of the stop bank, with two entry/exit points on to Kahatura Road.

4WD, farm vehicles and stock also share the road.

4.01km

4wd

27 Nov 2010 by ledzep

ledzep