A well-formed gravel road climbing into the Tararua Forest Park, this one follows the dams that feed the old Mangahao Power Station. There's a real sense of the country's early hydro history up here, with an information display near the first dam covering how it was all built. As you head up, the bush closes in and it gets quiet and remote.

The road is easy enough for most vehicles, including 2WD with a bit of ground clearance, though it's narrow with blind bends in places. Watch for oncoming traffic and walkers, as there have been close calls. A few gentle side tracks drop down to the river or branch off into the hills if you fancy a bit more, and these are where a 4WD earns its keep when it's been wet.

Near the first dam there's Arapeti, a small self-contained campsite run by a local landowner, handy if you want to pitch up for the night. Worth knowing there's no cellphone coverage in places. An easy day trip out of Wellington way and reliably popular.