Orongorongo River facts for kids
The Ōrongorongo River is a river in the lower North Island of New Zealand. It flows for about 32 kilometers (20 miles) through the Ōrongorongo Valley. This valley is located in the southern part of the Remutaka Ranges.
The river and the land around it are part of the Remutaka Forest Park. This park is managed by the Department of Conservation.
The name Ōrongorongo means "place of Rongorongo." Rongorongo was a woman's name. This meaning comes from the New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage.
The Ōrongorongo River is very important for the Remutaka Range. It drains a large area that gets a lot of rain, sometimes up to 2,400 millimeters (94 inches) each year. This is twice as much rain as the area where the river meets the sea at Cook Strait.
For much of its journey, the river is a braided river. This means it has a wide bed made of small, light-colored stones and gravel. The water flows in many small streams that weave across this wide bed. You can see these light-colored gravel areas in the picture next to this text.
Because the Remutaka Range often has very heavy rainstorms, the river can flood suddenly and powerfully. The biggest floods can wash away most of the small islands that have plants growing on them. These big floods happen about every 15 to 20 years. Between floods, new plants start to grow on the gravel islands. First, small plants appear, then native shrubs like tauhinu and manuka, and finally small trees.
In December 2019, the official name of the river was made "Ōrongorongo River."
Fun Activities at the River
The Ōrongorongo Valley is a popular spot for people who enjoy walking and tramping (which is like hiking). Many visitors come from the Wellington Region.
The easiest way to get to the valley is through the Catchpool Valley. From there, you can take the Ōrongorongo Track. This track takes about four hours to walk there and back. It leads you to the river where the Turere Stream flows into it.
From this point, there are many other tracks you can explore. Some are short day walks, while others are longer trips that take several days. These tracks go deeper into the Rimutaka Forest Park.
You can find several huts in the Ōrongorongo Valley. Some are managed by the Department of Conservation and offer basic services. There are also simple private huts, often called "baches," mainly in the upper part of the river valley. These huts provide a place to rest for trampers.
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Looking north from Turere Stream
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Looking north over the "Manuka Flats"
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Northern rātā flowers behind the Ōrongorongo River
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Looking at "Big Bend" from the "Wet Weather Track"
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Bridge over Turere Stream, a small river flowing into the Ōrongorongo River
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Sign at the start of the Ōrongorongo Track
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Inside one of the Department of Conservation huts
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A private bach (hut)
Animals and Plants
The Ōrongorongo Valley is home to many different kinds of plants and animals. One special animal found here is an at-risk moth species called Pyrgotis transfixa.
