Grace’s Stream Campsite was a basic backcountry campsite located in the Remutaka Forest Park
Grace’s Stream Campsite was a simple backcountry campsite located within Remutaka Forest Park near Wainuiomata. Set alongside Grace’s Stream, it was accessed by a short walk from the upper car park using the Five Mile Loop Track or nearby walking routes. The site provided a low key bush camping experience, with space for tents among native forest and a basic pit toilet as its only facility.
The campsite was well used by trampers and local visitors, largely because it offered a sense of remoteness while remaining relatively easy to reach from Wellington and Lower Hutt. It was commonly used as an overnight stop, a base for short bush walks, or a quiet place to enjoy the surrounding beech forest and streamside environment.
In 2022, the Department of Conservation made the decision to permanently close the campsite. The closure was based on safety concerns, particularly the risk posed by damaged and unstable trees within the camping area, as well as environmental pressure caused by use extending beyond the defined campsite footprint. Following the closure, facilities were removed and signage installed to indicate that camping was no longer permitted.
Today, the former campsite remains part of the surrounding forest but is no longer managed or maintained as an official camping area. While some visitors still pass through or pause at the location to enjoy its natural setting, it is no longer supported for overnight use.
DISCUSSION