Whangamarino Historic Walk
Alert/Important notice
Track upgrade
The track is being upgraded but is open for use. Work to be completed includes wetland view point development and interpretative signage.
Track category
Short walk
Time:
25 min
Distance:
900m
Description
The track starts at the gate and follows the mown pathway and Po markers through regenerating native bush of tree ferns, mahoe, mapou, hangehange and other shrubs before climbing up a grassy spur, with views over the Waikato River and State Highway 1. The track is generally of easy gradient with steeper parts stepped.
At the top of the spur are some fortification ditches that were part of Te Teoteo's Pa, a pre-European pa site. A short distance further on is the Whangamarino Redoubt occupied by British forces during the Waikato War of 1863-64.
View from Whangamarino Redoubt.
Information panels provide further detail about the history of the area. The track then follows down an old roadway used during the Land Wars to the exit on to Oram Road. This section of track also forms part of the Te Araroa Trail, a walking trail from Cape Reinga to Bluff.
Getting there
This walk is accessed from Oram Road, off State Highway 1 between Meremere and Mercer. It is just across the Whangamarino River control gates.
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.