Nov 24, 2025 Rotokare Scenic Reserve
From our new home base in the tiny village of Ohawe on the south shore of the Taranaki (or Egmont) Cape, we ventured to the Rotokare Scenic Reserve for a hike in native forest and wetland around spring-fed Lake Rotokare. The Reserve has been protected from development since the 1870’s, however, lackadaisical enforcement led to more community involvement in management and ultimately to containment. A predator-proof fence was erected in 2008, completely encircling the Reserve and intensive trapping was conducted, making the Reserve completely mammal free; no rats, mice, weasels, ferrets, stoats, possums, feral dogs or cats, and no pets allowed at all! There is even a double gated entrance to get in and out to ensure that no predators enter!
It was comfortable hiking in the woods on this warm, sunny day! The trail circles the lake, with a small pontoon dock to walk out onto and enjoy the sun and the view, but it was rather windy on the water!
The Reserve is home to several endangered native birds that exist only here, a few other fenced predator-free reserves and on predator-free islands! The saddleback bird or Tieke is one endangered bird that we saw at least 4 of on our walk!
None of the saddleback birds we saw seemed afraid of us at all! To see videos of these birds click HERE for our YouTube channel!
This feeder station is where we saw another endangered bird, the stitchbird or Hihi. It is a smaller wren sized bird and much too fast to film or get a picture of. It is even more endangered than the saddleback, and only exists in fenced reserves with specialized feeding stations like this to provide the nectar they feed on.