Meet : DOC Rotorua Office, 99 Sala St, Rotorua, go in Scion (Forest Research) north entrance and turn left before the locked gates 8:30am or DOC Ashpit Road campground, Lake Rerewhakaaitu at 9:15am.

Grade :Medium-Hard and in particular confident walking on steep mobile scoria slopes and along high and sharp ridges.

Registration: Minimum age 14 years old. Maximum of 30 people on trip on a first come basis but must register first with Paul Cashmore by Monday 13 March at latest.

Cost: Free

Bring: Minimum 2 litres water, lunch and snacks, wet weather and warm gear, sun hat, sunblock, boots or sturdy shoes, gaiters and/or leggings an advantage for loose scoria, gloves for pulling out pines

We will be driven to the top of Mt Tarawera by 4WD bus and vehicle to the crater rim and hear a bit about the history and ecological values of the mountain. We will be led by Ruawahia trustees and DOC staff with assistance from Kaitiaki Tours. This year we will climb onto the top of Ruawahia dome with time to take in the flora, fauna and 360 degree views of the Bay of Plenty. We will then spend the rest of the day helping to handpull wilding conifer seedlings to assist the Ruawahia Wilding Conifer Project which aims to control the spread of wilding conifers in order to protect the unique values on the mountain.