Iron Gates Gorge via the Stoat Traps Track

18th March 2021. PLEASE NOTE: THE STOAT TRAPS TRACK HAS RECENTLY BEEN TIDIED UP AND IS EASIER TO WALK DOWN TO THE STREAM WHICH FLOWS INTO THE TRUE LEFT OF THE OROUA RIVER. YOU NEED TO CROSS THIS STREAM BEFORE WALKING ABOUT 50 METERS TO THE IRONGATES GORGE. Further instructions below.

How to get there.

Travel up Table Flat Road north of Apiti, which changes to metal road.
Via left up Petersons Road and continue to the upgraded carpark.
NO DOGS ARE PERMITTED AT THE CAR PARK AND THE FARMLAND ACCESS.
Park your vehicle, enjoy the view and head for the new iron gates entrance (symbolic of the Iron Gates Gorge) and make your way down the marked track until you reach a wooden gate at the start of the Ruahine State Forest to the Alice Nash Heritage Lodge.
About 5 minutes later cross over the wooden-arched bridge, which crosses the Umutoi Stream and continue up the hill for a few minutes.
When the track levels out the entrance to the track is sign posted on the left.
The Rifle Range is further on and occasionally hunters sight in their rifles, so do not be alarmed if shots are heard.

Please note.
The track is not an official Dept of Conservation (DOC) track and is used for the purpose of pest-control. It can, however be walked.

The walk takes about 2 hours return.

Once on the track you will walk through beautiful beach forest with the track lined with predominantly crown fern.
About 20 minutes along the track there is 10 minute return no-exit walk to a lookout to the Iron Gate Gorge, where there is a cliff. So just be careful. It is sign posted.
On this well sign-posted track you may see a few native birds, plenty of native bush and a view of a horse-tail waterfall. It is great tramping track.
After the waterfall you will come to a stand of pine trees which have been planted to stabilise the gravel slope. There are steps in the shingle to make it easier and including down the step-incline to the Umutoi Stream.
Walk parallel with the stream for a short distance before turning hard left to cross the Umutoi Stream.
Once over the stream you will see more pink flagging tape. Follow these for about 50 meters before reaching the Iron Gates Gorge.
Pink triangles and flagging tape mark the track.
It is not an official DoC track and does not appear on any maps. It is maintained by the local community to a tramping track standard. It takes one hour to get down to the Gorge with some lovely views along the way
Please return via this track. If the Oroua River is low you can walk back up the river to the Oroua Campsite which is below Alice Nash Hut.
Access across farmland to the car park from the Gorge is not permitted.