Bellbird Bush Track

At the corner of Pohokura and Toi Flat Roads are two loop walks, the Bellbird Bush Loop Track and the longer Bellbird Bush Track. The Bellbird Bush Loop is 400m long and takes around 15 minutes, according to DOC, starting and finishing at the carpark. Bellbird Bush Track starts at the same location, and heads immediately left through the beech forest. After almost 800m, the track offers a short detour on the right, which leads up to Spooners Hill Lookout. From here, you'll have great views out to the Maungaharuru Range. Return to the junction down the same track and then either return back the way you came (1 hour return), or turn right to exit further down Pohokura Road and walk back along the road (2 hours return).

Maungaharuru is the most sacred and spiritual maunga (mountain) of the local hapū Ngāti Kurumōkihi. It was occupied by hapū and the ngahere (forest) was a source of food, rongoā (medicine) and resources. Boundary Stream is situated high on Maungaharuru. Maori oral tradition recounts the migration of the waka Tākitimu southwards, and a tohunga/high priest of the waka, Tūpai, who cast the staff Papauma high into the air. Papauma took flight and landed on the maunga. Papauma embodied the mauri (life force) of birdlife. The maunga rumbled and roared on receiving this most sacred of taonga (treasure), and the maunga proliferated with birdlife. It is said that the mountain roared every morning as the many birds took flight and every evening as they returned. Hence the name, Maungaharuru – the mountain that rumbled and roared. In 1882 Herbert Guthrie-Smith and Arthur Cunningham purchased the Tūtira Block, which included the Boundary Stream area. Logging and land development substantially reduced the forested area. Guthrie-Smith recorded the history of the area, which he published in the book Tutira, the story of a New Zealand sheep station. In 1976 the Shine family gifted the region’s highest waterfall and surrounding land, which was included in the Boundary Stream Scenic Reserve established in 1979. Land in the Bell Rock Track area was made available by the Heays family and included in the reserve in 1984. The Boundary Stream Reserve became a Mainland Island in 1996. Mainland islands aim to protect and restore habitats on the mainland of New Zealand through intensive management of introduced pests. They are called ‘mainland islands’ because they are defined areas isolated by fencing, geographical features or, more commonly, intensive management of pests.

Boundary Stream Scenic Reserve is 60km north of Napier. Follow State Highway 2 to Tutira, turn left at Tutira onto Matahorua Road then left onto Pohokura Road. Use this location in Google Maps to find your way there.

We encourage you to continue gaining the skills and knowledge required for a safe trip. The NZ Mountain Safety Council has lots of free resources and information you can use. These can be accessed via www.mountainsafety.org.nz . Level up in your outdoor knowledge with these interactive online learning tools: Trip Planning Tramping / field Skills Basic Navigation River Safety Additionally, check out the range of helpful videos available from the NZ Mountain Safety Council YouTube channel .

Dogs allowed. Keep dog under control at all times.