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The Fern Gully track upgrade is now complete and what was once a steep slippery route has now been transformed into an easy grade family walkway. As the name suggests the track sidles up a sheltered gully shaded by towering tree ferns. It’s a very attractive walk and a great asset for Wainuiomata and the wider community.
The new loop track off Dillon Street in Lowry Bay is getting plenty of use and public feedback via e-mail has been very encouraging. Ongoing track maintenance continues on a weekly basis and access throughout the park is generally looking good.
As approved by Council through the management plan review, recreational hunting by ballot started on March 31 and runs through to the end of April. This is the first time in a number of years that hunting has been permitted and the response to the ballot was good with over 50 applicants. For safety reasons only two hunters are allowed in the permitted hunting zone at any one time. No animals have been shot to date. In the interest of general public safety GW staff have carried out both day and night patrols.
Also approved by Council as part of the review, a mountain bike route in the northern forest is now established and signage is currently on order. The route takes the rider from Wainuiomata hill summit along the main ridge to Lowry lookout and from there, down Rata Ridge to the lower end of Wainuiomata. These ridges have more acceptable grades in comparison with other tracks in the forest which are generally very steep. Mountain bikers will now have access to some 5km of track in the northern forest as well as the existing Lakes Block access.
Hazards in the park can crop up in the most unlikely of places. A local resident contacted the ranger regarding a couple of 3 metre deep holes in a forest gully behind Lowry Bay. An inspection found the holes located in an old underground holding tank which was part of the original Lowry Bay water supply system. The holes were certainly a serious hazard and have since been covered.
The site itself is very interesting with the old dam walls still intact and the stream teeming with native fish. | 
