Kaweka Road walks
Track category
Short walk
Description
Ngahere Loop Track
Time: 1 hr return
A winter scene on Kaweka Road
From the Makahu Saddle carpark a track leads to Ngahere Base (the former hydrological survey base) then follows an old road down to a stream. Across the bridge the Matauria Ridge Track turns to the right and the Ngahere Loop Track climbs straight ahead.
About thirty minutes easy walking, through beech forest, takes one over Ngahere Hill (1114 metres) and out to Kaweka Road just over 1.8 km from the carpark.
Matauria Ridge
Time: 30 min
A worthwhile trip from the Ngahere Loop Track is to walk along Matauria Ridge. From this wide, open ridge there are fine views into the beech forested Donald catchment, back to Makahu Saddle and across to the main Kaweka Range.
Little's Clearing
Time: 20 min
Four kilometres before Makahu Saddle a short road turns off Kaweka Road and leads to Little's Clearing. Here there is a picnic area and a 20 minute loop walk through beech forest. The clearing itself is red tussock.
A track which is used mainly for hunting access leads from the loop walk on to Black Birch Range. Black Birch Bivouac is 1.5 hours along the range.
Getting there
Kaweka Road is located 65 km north-west of Napier. From Napier follow Puketitiri Road for 36 km before turning left into Whittle Road. Kaweka Road is the first road on the right.
Whittle Road passes partly through farmland, to the park entrance (please leave all gates as found). This road may be closed at times due to snow and ice.
About the area
The Makahu saddle is a popular starting point to enjoy a variety of short walks along the mountain tops.
For more challenging tracks see Kaweka Road tramping tracks