Description
From the car park at the end of Leitch Road, follow the track into Whareorino forest. It's a former surveyed road and is well graded.
Starting at a farm gate, the track passes farmland as it climbs before entering bush. The track decends to Leitch's clearing – walk across the clearing to reach the hut.
There are no major streams to cross on this track.
Leitch's Hut
Keep to the tracks to prevent the spread of chytrid fungus that affects the endangered Archey's frog.
Illegal poisons were found around this track in 2020 and dog permits were suspended. There has been no evidence of poison since then, and dog permits are available. But visitors should remain vigilant and report any suspicious acticity to the local office.
Maps: Use NZTopo50 BF31 (Marokopa ) and BF32 (Piopio)
History And Culture
Sam Leitch was a soldier awarded land after World War I in a solder's land lottery called the ballot. Leitch was awarded an isolated farm, now part of the wider Whareorino forest.The clearing where the hut now stands was the site of Leitch's home. Remnants of his plantings, mainly macrocapa and eleagnus, are still in place.
All content and images courtesy of Department of Conversation
Features
Related activities
