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Location & access
DOC track reference point, not a verified trailhead, entrance or the whole route. Check the official route directions before travel.
Official location informationLocation source
DOC track reference point, not a verified trailhead, entrance or the whole route.
Reference point: -38.59669, 177.96005. WGS84 coordinates retained at the official service's returned precision; decimal resolution is not survey accuracy. Source positional accuracy is not specified.
DOC Maps walking and tramping reference point (WGS84), exact official-page GUID / Department of Conservation. Checked 2026-10-12.
Key facts
- Distance
- Not confirmed; check the manager's route description.
- Walking time
- 15 min - 1 hr; accessible loop 15-20 min, full circuit 40-60 min
- Track grade
- Wheelchair accessible short walk (shorter loop)
Checked against official sources on 26 September 2026. Rules and conditions are set by Department of Conservation — confirm with them before you go.
A compact Gisborne forest outing with linked circuits and a separately identified wheelchair-accessible short loop.
Start with the right loop
The entrance is on Back Ormond Road near the Harper Road turnoff, outside Gisborne. Two linked tracks leave the car park. DOC identifies a marked shorter loop as wheelchair accessible; the complete circuit takes longer and should not inherit that accessibility claim automatically. Read the entrance map together and choose the same route before setting off. A person waiting at the car park should know whether the party intends the short loop or the fuller circuit.
Look closely at a small forest remnant
The reserve preserves kahikatea and puriri forest once much more widespread on the Gisborne plains. Interpretation signs make the short circuit useful for a deliberately slow visit. Pick a few trees or canopy views to stop at instead of treating a small reserve as something to finish quickly. Stay on the formed paths and leave plants and fallen material where they are. Wildlife watching is a possibility rather than a promised sighting at a particular time.
Match the visit to the group
The short option can be a complete destination, particularly when travelling with someone who needs predictable effort. Confirm the present surface and entrance condition with DOC if mobility access is essential; a published category cannot tell you whether a recent branch fall or wet patch affects the day. Carry whatever personal equipment makes the visit comfortable rather than assuming a brief outing needs none. Allow time to transfer from the vehicle, read signs and rest without feeling obliged to complete the longer circuit. Do not add an unscheduled second lap while another member of the group is waiting. Recheck the meeting arrangement before choosing any link between paths.
Read the official track description and notices immediately before travelling. The source-check date is not a live access or safety report.
