Ōtaki Forks to Field Hut

Time: 3–4 hr
Distance: 5 km

From the car park next to the caretaker’s house, follow the marked track through the trees to the swing bridge over the Waiotauru River. Cross the bridge onto a grass terrace and follow a track towards Judd Ridge climbing up into bush. It is a climb from 150 m all the way to Field Hut, which appears in a small clearing below the bush line at 835 m.

Field Hut to Kime Hut / Bridge Peak

Time: 3–4 hr
Distance: 5 km

Continue the climb from Field Hut beyond the bush line into Table Top alpine tussock. Pass the signposted junction to Penn Creek Hut and another junction at Bridge Peak to Maungahuka Hut. This section of the hike could take much longer than signposted times due to the condition of the track and during bad weather. Allow extra time to reach the Maungahuka Hut.  

If you are continuing on to Kime Hut, follow the signposted route to the hut at 1,405 m. A mobile phone signal is usually available along the ridge line near Kime Hut. It is around 15 minutes from Bridge Peak to Kime Hut.

Kime Hut / Bridge Peak to Maungahuka Hut

Time: 4 hr (may be much longer in poor weather)
Distance: 6.8 km

The track along the Tararua Main Range is a poled route along an exposed, narrow ridge. There is no shelter, visibility is often poor, and sections of the route are very steep and difficult. You need good weather to attempt this track – people have died on it during storms. Only experienced and well-equipped trampers should take this route.

From Kime Hut, follow the track back towards Ōtaki Forks for around 15 minutes, until you reach the track junction by Bridge Peak. Here there will be a signposted route to Maungahuka Hut.

Follow this route onto the Tararua Range and follow the main ridge north-east. The poled route follows the ridge across Boyd-Wilson Knob (1138 m), Vosseler (1198 m), Yeates (1205 m) and McIntosh (1286 m). The ridge is very narrow in places, with steep drop-offs.

After the McIntosh high point, a substantial ridge (Pakihore Ridge) divides from the main ridge and a poled route leads down that ridge towards Penn Creek Hut. If the weather is deteriorating, this can be a useful exit point from the exposed ridgeline to find shelter in the bush. To go to Maungahuka, continue along the main ridge towards the Tararua Peaks.

The Tararua Peaks are a notoriously steep double peak, formed by the Tuiti and Tunui summits. They are traversed with the help of a long ladder. There are also four sections of rocky outcrops that are steep and difficult to navigate. Hand cables/chains have been anchored into the rock to help people navigate these. There are particularly steep drop-offs through this section, so take great care.

A short distance after the Tararua Peaks is the Maungahuka summit at 1330 m. There is a track junction at the summit – take the left hand route, signposted to Maungahuka Hut. The hut is only a short distance from Maungahuka summit, situated beside a tarn (small alpine lake).

There is no heating at Maungahuka Hut, so pack plenty of warm and dry clothing.

Maungahuka Hut to Aokaparangi Hut

Time: 3-4 hr

From Maungahuka Hut, continue north following the route along the main range. Be aware that this section follows an exposed ridgeline the whole way. There are challenging sections along this route, including scrambling over rocky terrain beside steep drops.

The route descends on a wide ridge from Maungahuka, which narrows as it approaches Simpson (1174 m).

Continue following the ridge past Wright (1196 m). After Wright, the route re-enters the bush. It climbs towards Aokaparangi, leaving the bush line and continuing to climb towards the Aokaparangi summit.

Shortly before the summit, a poled route splits from the main route and descends to Aokaparangi Hut, losing around 200 m of height. In low visibility, it could be easy to miss this turnoff. The hut is on the bush line, well below the main ridge and summit of Aokaparangi.

Aokaparangi Hut to Anderson Memorial Hut

Time: 3 hr

From Aokaparangi Hut, return up the side-track to meet the main route, then follow the route to the summit of Aokaparangi (1354 m).

There is a track junction at the summit, with options to continue on the main range or follow a track down into the Waiohine Valley, to Mid Waiohine Hut. Continue north along the main range route, signposted towards Anderson Memorial Hut. The track descends from Aokaparangi on a narrow ridge then climbs to the Kahiwirao high point (1320 m).

After descending from Kahiwirao, the route becomes a track again and re-enters bush. It descends and then climbs gradually, to reach Anderson Memorial Hut. The hut is nestled in bush, near the edge of the bush line.

Anderson Memorial Hut to Waitewaewae Hut

Time: 4 hr

From Anderson Memorial Hut, follow the poled route north along the main range. You will pass two small tarns and then climb to the high point at 1356 m. From here, the route continues along the ridge towards Junction Knob (1375 m).

When you reach Junction Knob you will find a track junction – a route turns west off Junction Knob towards Shoulder Knob, while another route continues north along the main range towards Nichols Hut. Take the turn-off to Shoulder Knob, which will be signposted to Waitewaewae Hut.

Follow this route as it descends to Shoulder Knob (1310 m). Not long after Shoulder Knob, the route reaches the bush line and becomes a marked track again.

Once you are back in the bush, the track descends all the way to the Ōtaki River valley. This is a long descent – losing over 900 m of elevation – and is very steep in places. The descent is physically demanding and often comes at the end of the day when trampers are tired, so take your time on this section to avoid tripping and falling.

When the track reaches the valley floor, it crosses the Ōtaki River over a swing bridge. The track then follows the edge of the river for a short distance to Waitewaewae Hut. The hut is situated near the river.

Waitewaewae Hut to Ōtaki Forks

Time: 5-7 hr
Distance: 10 km

From Waitewaewae Hut, the track sidles around a large bend in the Ōtaki River. It crosses a small side stream, then sidles to Arapito Creek. The crossing point at Arapito Creek is marked with large orange triangles. After the crossing, the track follows the true right of the creek then climbs towards the plateau, crossing several side streams on the way.

After reaching the plateau the gradient levels out. The track crosses the plateau to reach Saddle Creek. This is approximately the halfway point. At Saddle Creek, there is a track junction – follow the main Waitewaewae Track which leaves the creek at this point.

The track sidles for some time, crossing multiple side streams, including Papa Creek. It crosses the top of a large slip, then descends to a swing bridge over the Ōtaki River. The track leads over a river terrace, then crosses a swing bridge over the Waiotauru River to reach the main Ōtaki Forks car park.

There are several sections on the Waitewaewae Track that are hard to manoeuvre around – extra care is required. 

Aside from the bridges over the Ōtaki and Waiotauru Rivers, all stream crossings are unbridged. These streams can rise rapidly and flood after rain, so assess them carefully before crossing and do not attempt to cross if you have any doubt about safety.

The track begins at Ōtaki Forks. Ōtaki Forks is 19 km inland from Otaki township – around 1 hour and 30 mins drive from Wellington or Palmerston North. Be aware that Ōtaki Gorge Road is closed to vehicles and pedestrians until further notice due to a major slip. Ōtaki Forks Campsite is closed. 

There is an emergency track that you can walk to gain access to Ōtaki Forks. It is 5 km long and can be accessed 200 m past the locked gate on the Ōtaki Gorge Road.

This is a very challenging trip – read about it and make sure it’s right for you

The route along the main range is very difficult tramping. It is fully exposed to extreme, fast-changing weather and low visibility, high winds and storms are common.

You need excellent backcountry tramping skills and good equipment. You must know how to assess the weather and judge whether it is safe to proceed, or if you should turn back, find shelter, or take an alternative route. You also need good navigation skills, including in low visibility conditions.

The terrain is extremely steep and you will have scramble over very narrow sections of ridge and rock, with steep drops beside you. There are parts where you will need to use chains and a ladder. If you are not comfortable with heights then you will find this track very tough, even if you are an experienced tramper.

We recommend reading other trampers’ stories of this track and looking at photos before deciding whether you wish to attempt it.

Plan extra time, it might take much longer

The times given here are for an experienced party during good conditions. Many people will find it takes much longer (even double the time in places), especially if there is high wind or low visibility. Start early and plan enough time in your day to make sure you can complete the route during daylight.

Check the weather and only try this circuit in good weather

We strongly recommend that you do not tramp along the main range during bad weather. Weather forecast for Kime Hut and Waitewaewae Hut.

This track is best suited to summer tramping, as snow, ice and short daylight hours will make it even more difficult.