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Tracks & walks

Central North Island

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Central North Island
- Turangi/ Taupo

Kaimanawa Forest Park tramping tracks

Track category

Description

Clements Mill Road - Te Iringa - Oamaru Track

Time: 5 - 7 hr

This well graded benched track starts from a carpark 5km along Clements Mill Road and climbs to a clearing where the Te Iringa Hut used to be (1-2 hours). It continues on to the Tikitiki Stream and Kaipo River junction where the track forks at the swingbridge. The main track follows down the true right bank of the Kaipo River to Oamaru Hut (5-7 hours from Clements Mill Road). The other marked route zig-zags its way up the Kaipo River and leads over to Cascade Hut. The time given is from the swingbridge.

NB: Te Iringa hut has burnt down and will not be replaced. It may show on older maps.

Kaimanawa Forest Park Access via Poronui

Time: 4 hr

The poled route from the end of Taharua Road to the Mohaka River provides walking access only to the Oamaru Valley. In places the poled route crosses private land. As a condition of access absolutely no hunting is allowed and hunters must remove rifle bolts. The time given is approximate for the walk from Poronui gate to Oamaru hut. Excellent trout fishing can be had in the Taharua stream,which can be accessed from the poled route. There is also excellent fishing on the Oamaru and Kaipo streams which are easily accessed from Oamaru hut.

Ngapuketurua Track

Time: 6 - 8 hr

This track leaves from Kiko Road end. It provides access over 1517m Ngapuketurua Summit (4-5 hours) and on to Cascade Hut (6-8 hours) and the interior of the park. A route also branches off at the summit and runs through Ignimbrite Saddle and over Junction Top to Waipakihi Hut. Parts of these routes cross private land, contact East Taupo Lands Trust for permission to cross their land.

Umukarikari Track

Time: 4 - 6 hr

Signposted from Kaimanawa Road. This track climbs steadily to the treeline. From there it follows a poled route along the Umukarikari Range (summit 1561 m) before dropping down to Waipakihi Hut. Popular with hunters as well as trampers.

Urchin Track

Time: 6 - 8 hr

This is an alternative route to the Waipakihi Valley, climbing over the southern portion of the range via the Urchin summit (1391m). It is also signposted from Kaimanawa Road and leads to the mid-reaches of the Waipakihi Valley. Kaimanawa Road to Waipakihi Hut via Urchin trig. Another popular hunting route into the Waipakihi valley.

Waipakihi Valley - Waipakihi road to Waipakihi hut

Time: 8 - 10 hr

Waipakihi River. Photo: Angela Paget.
Waipakihi Valley in Kaimanawa Forest
Park

This valley is accessible from the Waipakihi Road end and provides relatively easy walking and excellent hunting. There is no defined track and you should be prepared for frequent river crossings. River levels can rise quickly during and after heavy rain. Many good camp sites exist in the valley. The southern bank of the Waipakihi River below the Waipakihi Gorge to Waikato Stream and extending south to the 'Needles Block' is private land. Contact Danny Loughlin, Kaiamanwa 3B2A, 3B2B Trust, PO Box 716, Taupo.

North Arm Saddle - Oamaru River Route

This route commences from North Arm Saddle, climbs over Mauangaraorangi and traverses a long bush-clad ridge prior to descending steeply into the Oamaru River at the Oamaru-Waitawhero confluence.

Oamaru-Boyd Track

Time: 4 - 6 hr

The Oamaru River. Photo: Angela Paget.
Trampers stop beside the Oamaru
River

From the Oamaru Hut the track follows the true left bank of the Oamaru River to Waitawhero Stream. The track crosses the Oamaru and follows the Waitawhero Stream to a saddle. At this point the track emerges at the forest edge of the upper Ngaruroro. Across the valley the Boyd Airstrip can be seen. (Boyd Lodge is obscured by beech forest).

Getting there

Vehicle access is available to the park from the north and west as follows:

Clements Mill Road

27 km east of Taupo turn right off SH 5 (Napier Taupo Road) into Taharua Road and follow for 9.5 km. Turn right into Clements Mill Road - it is 21 km to the end of this road.

Kiko Road

10 km north of Turangi off SH1, Kiko Road runs 17 km through Lake Taupo Forest to the park boundary. Please note that Lake Taupo Forest is private land and Kiko Road provides access only to the forest park.

Desert Road

There are four signposted and sealed access roads from SH 1 to the Tongariro River and Kaimanawa Forest Park.

Kaimanawa Road

15 km south of Turangi, provides access to two tramping tracks, short walks and the Pillars of Hercules as well as picnic/camping areas.

Tree Trunk Gorge

23 km south of Turangi. Access to the Tongariro River and the Tree Trunk Gorge/Kaimanawa Road walking track and cycle track.

Rangipo Intake Road

33 km south of Turangi. Access to Tongariro River.

Waipakihi Road

38 km south of Turangi. Access to the Waipakihi River Valley and picnic/camping areas.

Air access (recreational use only)

A number of airstrips provide access to the forest park by light aircraft.

Boyd Airstrip

Ngaruroro river. This airstrip is administered by DOC and is available for transport of recreational users

Oamaru Airstrip

This airstrip is located on private land across the river from the Oamaru hut. Tongariro Aviation transports recreational users to this strip.

North Arm

Te Wai o Tupuritia Stream. Located on private land where Tongariro Aviation has permission to operate.

Helicopter Access

Helicopters are only permitted to land at established DOC hut sites and other designated landing sites.

Activities

Fishing

Hunting permits and information

Entry to the park is unrestricted except if you take a firearm or a dog - it then becomes necessary to obtain a permit.

You can get permits from the Department of Conservation

A permit is required to cross private land. If you intend to cross private land you must first obtain a permit from the appropriate landowner. See "Access".

Places to stay

About the area

Kaimanawa Forest Park

You can enjoy many activities in Kaimanawa Forest Park in the Turangi/Taupo area. Permits are required for hunting and fishing. Access over private land is by permission only.

Turangi/Taupo hunting

The Turangi/Taupo area offers a wide range of hunting opportunities. The sika herd in the Kaimanawa Forest Park is internationally renowned and regarded by hunters as a valuable recreational resource.

Plan and prepare

Before you go into the outdoors, tell someone your plans and leave a date to raise the alarm if you haven't returned. To do this, use the New Zealand Outdoors Intentions process on the AdventureSmart website. It is endorsed by New Zealand's search and rescue agencies and provides three simple options to tell someone you trust the details about your trip.

Before you start

The weather in Kaimanawa Forest Park is extremely changeable all year round. Be prepared for all weather and conditions. River levels can rise quickly during and after heavy rain. Check weather forecasts before you leave.
In many areas of the Kaimanawa Forest Park there is no signal for cellphone.

Remember:

During periods of extreme fire danger, lighting of fires in the open may be prohibited.
Portable stoves are preferable to open fires. If you must use a wood fire obtain firewood from dead trees only, not from live trees and shrubs.
Remove all rubbish from the park when you leave.

Huts

There are 4 huts in the park operating on a first come first served basis. The huts are equipped with coal/wood ranges, axe, shovel and bunks with mattresses. To preserve the shelter around the huts, solid fuel is supplied to all the huts. Please use sparingly.
Before leaving, please extinguish the fire, ensure the hut is clean and tidy, doors and windows are secured, firewood restocked, tools inside and food is secure from vermin.
Hut fees are $10 and $5 per night. Tickets should be purchased before your trip and are available from all Department of Conservation offices and local visitor information centres.