Work is well underway in the Kaimai Mamaku Forest Park to clear existing tracks and develop new walkways as part of a five-year plan, making the national park more accessible for trampers.

Volunteers from the Auckland, Waikato, Katikati and Cambridge Tramping clubs, as well as the Kaimai Ramblers, Tauranga Midweek Tramping Group and associated hunting groups are all part of the collective Kaimai Project.

Geoff and Lisa Mead, Tony Walton, Sean Kemball, Christine Turnbull and Faye Zhong enjoy a lunch break while working in the Waiorongomai Valley.

The plan is to upgrade the existing North-South Track and reinstate with well-maintained paths and huts, as well as restore a four-day tramping track from Wairere Falls to Karangahake Gorge via the ridgeline and the Mangakino Pack Track.

In total, about 120km of tracks will be redeveloped in the national park.

Co-ordinator Tony Walton spoke to The Weekend Sun just hours before heading to the Kaimai Range on a three-day working bee with about 20 volunteers.

'We've almost completed a replacement bypass track from the Waiorongomai car park up, on the western side by Te Aroha, to the ridgeline.

'There's 4km to replace and we've got 700-800m left to go. It's an interesting location going past a water race from gold mining days, and plenty of native kauri.”

The work is being done under the Department of Conservation's community conservation fund, a grant set aside to aid volunteers, allowing them to take ownership and maintain back country routes throughout the country.

'The situation has been for a while that DoC has an immense of work to do and they don't have the resources to keep all existing facilities going,” explains Tony.

'Obviously they have priorities – walks and parks that get most visitor numbers – and the ones that miss out are the back country tracks.”

So far, more than $600,000 has been allocated to 60 outdoor recreation groups, including the Kaimai Project.

'The funds are for materials, transport, that sort of thing, and the community groups provide the labour.

'We're making sure these tracks stay open and don't get overgrown. Everything grows quickly on the top of the ridge and the longer it gets left, the chances are the tracks will be completely covered.”

The long-term goal is to put more huts in the park, so trampers and hunters can enjoy overnight trips in the native forest.

'We are so close to large centres of population – there's a lot of potential here. We're trying to hold on to that first of all, then really improve what's there.”

To follow the group's progress, visit www.sportsground.co.nz/kaimaicommunity