West Egmont tramping tracks
Tramping track
About the area
Egmont National Park can be found on the western coast of New Zealand's North Island. Here the volcano Taranaki (or Mt Egmont as it is also known) rules supreme.
Almost permanently in shadow, the western slopes of the mountain are known for their very high rainfall, resulting in numerous wet and boggy areas. Podocarp type forest featuring kamahi and mountain totara is predominant.
Description
Ihaia Track to Waiaua Gorge Hut
Time: 5 hr return
Getting there
Access via Ihaia Road, Opunake.
Description
Ladder to bottom of Waiaua River gorge
This track follows an old road that leads up to the remnants of the old Oanui Hut, before traversing across to Waiaua Gorge Hut, where there are spectacular views up the west side of the mountain. A nice side trip is the 1 hr trip (1 way) to the Brames Falls lookout. A ladder leads down to the bottom of the gorge to cross the Waiaua River. This river is wide and prone to flooding.
Kahui Track to Kahui Hut
Time: 6 hr return
Getting there
Access is via Kahui Road, off State Highway 45 at Rahotu.
Description
There is limited car parking at the end of the road. The Kahui track was once an old road ascending the western slopes of the mountain to Kahui Hut, the oldest hut in the park. The Kahui holes can be found off to the side of this track. Very little is known about these holes that are circular and up to 7m deep, although it has been suggested they were used by local Maori to store bones.
Puniho Track to Kahui Hut
Time: 6 hr return
Getting there
Access is from Puniho Road, via Wiremu Road, Okato.
Description
This track is a good entrance point for the Stony River, joining with the Stony River track to Bells Falls. It also connects with the Lower Around the Mountain Circuit
A good full day trip (8 hr return) is the Puniho Track to Stony River and on to Bells Falls. The track walks along the true left of the river. Be aware this is a large river that is prone to flash flooding.
Places to stay
This is a serviced sixteen-bunk hut in the Taranaki area.
This is a standard six-bunk hut in the Taranaki area.
Plan and prepare
What to expect on a tramping track:
- Challenging day or multi-day tramping/hiking
- Track is mostly unformed with steep, rough or muddy sections
- Suitable for people with good fitness. Moderate to high level backcountry skills and experience, including navigation and survival skills required
- Track has markers, poles or rock cairns. Expect unbridged stream and river crossings
- Tramping/hiking boots required