Te Pua-a-Tāne Circuit elevation profile part 1 – view larger in Whirinaki walks brochure

Te Pua-a-Tāne Circuit elevation profile part 2 – view larger in Whirinaki walks brochure

Traversing nearly 80 km around the park, trampers will experience the full range of the Whirinaki’s prehistoric forest.

Day 1: River Road car park to Central Whirinaki Hut

Time: 5 hr
Distance: 16 km

Begin at the River Road car park and travel towards the Whirinaki Waterfall, then Vern’s Camp, and stay overnight at Central Whirinaki Hut.

Day 2: Central Whirinaki Hut to Upper Te Hoe Hut

Time: 10 hr
Distance: 17.7 km

From Central Whirinaki Hut continue south along the Whirinaki River. The track will fork at the Taumutu bridge. Rather than crossing the bridge, keep left and follow the Taumutu Stream to Upper Whirinaki Hut. From Upper Whirinaki Hut its another 6 hr 30 min (11 km) to Upper Te Hoe Hut where you’ll stop for night two.

Day 3: Upper Te Hoe Hut to Mangakahika Hut

Time: 8 hr 30 min
Distance: 15 km

The track climbs about 300 m before dropping down to the Te Hoe bluffs on the way to Central Te Hoe Hut. Cross the Te Hoe suspension bridge for a lunch break at Central Te Hoe Hut – Whirinaki’s southernmost hut. After lunch, backtrack across the suspension bridge and carry on north for 3 hr 30 min (8.5 km) to Mangakahika Hut for night three.

Note: Parallel Creek bridge is closed due to cyclone damage in 2017. The bridge is 10 minutes north of Central Te Hoe Hut along the track to Mangakahika Hut. A temporary marked track has been added for people to cross. Cross the creek below the bridge or where it is low and safe to do so. Check the weather forecast for rain or previous rainfall, as this will cause the stream to rise rapidly.

Day 4: Mangakahika Hut to Moerangi Hut

Time: 6 hr 30 min
Distance: 17 km

On day four the track climbs up over a saddle before dropping down to Rogers Hut 3 hr 30 min (8.5 km). At Rogers take the track along the Moerangi Stream towards Moerangi Hut. Its another 3 hr (9 km) of easy walking from Rogers to Moerangi and night number four.

Day 5: Moerangi Hut to River Road carpark

Time: 4 hr 30 min
Distance: 13 km

The final day is 4 hr 30 min (13 km) of walking and a big climb up and over the Moerangi saddle (955 m). The track travels downhill from the saddle into lowland podocarp forest. Finish where you started at the River Road car park.

Whirinaki Te Pua-a-Tāne Conservation Park is 90 km south east of Rotorua.

Turn off SH5 onto SH38. At Te Waiti, turn into Minginui Road, then into River Road (gravel) at Minginui village.

NZTopo50 map sheets: BG38 (Wairapukao), BG39 (Ruatahuna), BH38 (Te Haroto), BH39 (Putorino).

Track condition

This site may be damaged with slips, flooding or fallen trees from severe weather. Be prepared to turn back if needed.