Riverhead Forest
Matariki / Rayonier Forests Phone: (09) 437 4082
Riverhead Forest is located in Rodney District, North West of Auckland central. It can be entered from several locations in Coatesville, Riverhead, Waimauku and Waitoki.
This is working pine forest, with logging and other forestry activities during the working week. Originally planted between 1929 and 1932, on poor kauri gum land; the forest covers just under 4000 ha.
Free Riding - Ararimu Valley Rd fire breaks
If you are looking for somewhere to ride for free, there are very wide berms (firebreaks) around the edge of the forest on Old North Rd, right around to Ararimu Valley Rd. Approx 10km of riding if you go all the way around - you can park in spots around the edge of the forest.
There is also some nice road riding in the area, with most drivers pretty good at looking out for horses.
Horse Riding Permits - Riding in the Forest
Rayonier are friendly towards horse riders and recreational use of their forests. Horse gate keys are available with a permit to ride. All registered riders receive emails from Rayonier about any activities in the forest (operational or events) and a map of the forest.
Entry is daylight hours only on any day except those notified where there is some other event on in the forest (or the part of it). There is an expectation that signage is followed and operational areas are not approached. E-mail notification attempts to keep forest users informed of where operational areas are and which routes trucks wil be using.
There are some terrific views out across the city, and the surrounding countryside. Roads and tracks are all shared with walkers, cyclists etc but there is generally a nice collaborative attitude.
Terrain and Trails
Riverhead is a clay based pine forest, on hilly terrain. This means that trails that cut through the forest will be wet and can be slippery.
The forest roads are formed from a variety of metal (rocks and roadbase). Some can be hardgoing for horses, but if you are prepared to ride at walk and trot it makes for good fitness work, and there are places to have a good canter. Forest Roads are well signposted but there are no specific horse trail markers or loop track markers.
Rayonier do spend quite a bit of time and effort making the forest pleasant for recreation. They have recently (2011) sprayed and cut back gorse along a lot of tracks, making riding many trails a lot more pleasant than it was.
Permit $60 p.a.
Gates require key
Entry Daylight Hours Only
No Formal Parking, but there are places to park floats
Map and Directions
There is a map of the forest and horse gates provided when you register to ride.
Horse gates (keys) are located at:
Escott Rd
Deacon Rd East (Off Mill Flat Rd)
Forestry Rd
Barlow Rd & Strip Rd (Off Ararimu Valley Rd)
Robinson Rd
Parking
The best parking can be found at the following locations:
Western Side
Ararimu Valley Rd entrances - Strip Road, Barlow Rd and Campbell Rd provide roadside (laybys) parking.
Eastern Side
Berenice Ave (a small cul-de-sac off Mill Flat Rd) provides parking for entrance through Deacon Rd East horse gate.
Robinson Rd is a b*gger of a hill to tow up, but does flatten out at the top
North:
Forestry Rd has parking (at the top near the horse gate) for vehicles.
NOTE: There have been problems with hunters and motorbikes entering the forest through horse gates. We do not want to lose our access to this forest because of trespassers.
Horse gate keys are for horse riders only; please do not lend out your key to others. When riding in the forest, please lock the gate immediately after you enter, so that others cannot steal the padlocks while you ride.
Rayonier do not have to give us access, this is a privilege not a right, so please do not abuse it.
If you see any vehicles entering the forest or anyone tampering with gate locks please report it to Sam Middlemass.