Mount Tutamoe Track
Alert/Important notice
Track closed until further notice due to logging operations
Track category
Tramping track
Time:
3 hr one way
Distance:
4 km
Description
Nikau palm
This track travels up through pine plantation and then enters Kaihu Forest climbing to Mount Tutamoe. The first hour is spent climbing up through the pine plantation and crossing several stiles. Along the way, you get pleasant views of the valley below.
Once in the bush the track follows up a ridge through dense lowland hardwood/podocarps forest of mainly tawa, towai, maire, miro and rimu. After a steady climb for about 40 minutes, the track gets very steep in the last 150 ft before the summit and you will need to climb over rocks and roots.
Views from the top are spectacular - you can see Dargaville, Kaipara, Maunganui Bluff to the south and west, Tangihua Forest and Whangarei Heads in the east.
Getting there
You can access the track from two townships Dargaville (13 km) or Whangarei (44 km) turning off State Highway 14 at Tangowahine signposted as Pakotai 26 km & Kaikohe 66 km. Stay on this route until you see a yellow sign indicating Tangowahine Valley Road (no exit) continue following this road up the valley.
You can also get there via Kaikohe from Mangakahia Valley Road, Opouteke Road, Murrays Road then onto Tangowahine Valley Road.
The track entrance is clearly marked next to a concrete bridge near the end of the road. The access track follows orange marker posts and triangles. From the car park the access track follows up the fence line to the left.
About the area
Mount Tutamoe is the second highest peak in Northland (770 metres).
The forests of Marlborough and Kaihu are of high ecological importance. Kaihu forest is a distinctive high altitude plateau rising to Mount Tutamoe and is covered in dense swamp forest with emergent rimu, northern rata, pukatea and maire. Its lower slopes contain regenerating shrubland and the relics of early kauri logging.
Plan and prepare
- Nearest petrol station north is Dargaville 38 km away
- In strong winds, please beware of falling branches
- Times shown are for a one way journey only, food, drink, warm clothes and wet weather gear should be carried.
- On extended bush walks a compass and topographical map are recommended. Topographical maps can be obtained from Land Information New Zealand www.linz.govt.nz and DOC Visitor Centres.
- Streams can be inaccessible after heavy rain and should not be attempted
- Access to this track is by courtesy of private land owners, please respect the owner's property and leave gates as you find them.
- Please ensure your footwear is clean before entering the bush, and is cleaned before visiting another site. This is to help prevent the spread of the kauri dieback disease Phytophthora taxon Agathis (PTA)
- Permits are required for dogs and hunring on conservation land, these can be acquired free of charge from the Kauri Coast Area Office.
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