Mount Holdsworth Track, Tararua Forest Park
A trip up Taratahi has so much going for it: amazing views, a short traverse along the tops, a choice of routes and the possibility of an overnight stay…
- Distance
- 18km return
- Time
- 8hr return
- Grade
- Moderate
Find your trail
Wellington
Climie, Upper Hutt
From Tunnel Gully, a five-minute walk along Tane’s Track leads through an enclave of mature native podocarp forest. In early summer, scarlet rātā blossoms pepper the dark green forest.…
- Distance
- 12km return
- Time
- 3-4hr
- Grade
- Easy
The Skyline Walkway, Wellington
The Skyline Walkway provides a vantage point over both Wellington City and the South Island. It spans most of Wellington’s western suburbs and can be walked from north or…
- Distance
- 13km
- Time
- 5hr
- Grade
- Easy/Moderate
Blue Range Hut, Tararua Forest Park
Blue Range Hut offers good views over the brutal Tararua backcountry but makes for an easy weekend destination less than three-hours’ walk from the road end. But don’t let…
- Distance
- 3.6km
- Time
- 2-2.5hrs
- Grade
- Easy/Moderate
Mākara Walkway, Wellington
Mākara Beach is a harsh environment. The prevailing nor-wester that roars over Wellington’s western hills churns a choppy Cook Strait. On a still day, though, Mākara is magic –…
- Distance
- 7.3km
- Time
- 2-3hr
- Grade
- Easy
Tarn Ridge Hut
One of the greatest things about the Tararua Range is not only its accessibility but the fact that this rugged tract of mountains can provide the sense that you…
- Distance
- 14.4km to hut
- Time
- 2-3 days return
- Grade
- Moderate/Difficult
Renata Hut via Akatarawa Saddle, Tararua Forest Park
Revitalised Renata Looking for a solid day with steady rather than steep hills to test post-injury fitness, I settled on Renata Hut. It’s in a seldom-visited corner of the…
- Distance
- 11km
- Time
- 4hr
- Grade
- Moderate
Remutaka Rail Trail, Remutaka Forest Park
From the trailhead on Incline Road, the trail offers a pleasant 1:30 grade that climbs adjacent to Pakuratahi River and through an old pine plantation and then regenerating native…
- Distance
- 17km one way
- Time
- 1-2hr (riding), 4.5hr (walking)
- Grade
- Easy/Moderate
Cone Hut and the Lower Waiohine Track, Tararua Forest Park
Cone Hut was originally constructed in 1946 by the Tararua Tramping Club. It is a totara slab hut, ageless in architecture and sublime in setting. This tramp is an…
- Distance
- 13.6km
- Time
- Car park to Cone Hut, 2.5hr; To Car park via Lower Waiohine Track, 3.5-4.5hr
- Grade
- Moderate
Mt Hector via Neill Ridge, Tararua Forest Park
It’s all uphill to reach Mt Hector on the Neill Ridge route. The first stretch from Waiohine Campsite on the trail that leads to Cone Hut climbs about 500m.…
- Distance
- 31.2km
- Time
- 2-3 days. Car park to Mt Hector, 12hr; To Alpha Hut, 3-4hr; To car park 8hr
- Grade
- Difficult
Papatahi Hut, Remutaka Forest Park
The start of the Orongorongo Track is an ugly mix of gorse and gravel, but it soon enters native forest. Close to the start, the track descends to Catchpool…
- Distance
- 9.3km
- Time
- 3-4hr (allow 6-7hr if travelling with young children)
- Grade
- Easy
Papatahi Hut, Remutaka Forest Park
We have a family tradition of taking our children on their first overnight tramp when they turn six. For my son’s inaugural tramp, I decided to rope in a…
- Distance
- 9.3km
- Time
- 3-4hr (allow 6-7hr if travelling with young children)
- Grade
- Easy
Powell Hut, Tararua Forest Park
There’s been a Powell Hut for 80 years now, perched on this vantage spot, just above the bushline on the eastern edge of the Tararua Ranges. When hardy Hutt…
- Distance
- 7.36km
- Time
- 4hr
- Grade
- Easy/Moderate
Maungahuka Hut, Tararua Forest Park
There’s something about the topography of the Tararua Ranges that results in few tarns – especially when compared with the Ruahine Range. Small tarns exist in a number of…
- Distance
- 16.7km
- Time
- Otaki Forks to Bridge Peak, 4.5-5hr; to Maungahuka Hut, 4-5hr
- Grade
- Moderate/Difficult
Kime Hut, Tararua Forest Park
Kime Hut is a secluded weekend getaway in the Tararuas – if you can handle the five-hour uphill slog. Multiple routes from Kime Hut provide many options for further…
- Distance
- 10.6km
- Time
- 4-6hrs
- Grade
- Moderate
Puke Ariki, Belmont Regional Park
Belmont Regional Park stretches along the hills that form the western side of the Hutt Valley. An extensive network of tracks travels through the bush and across farmed open…
- Distance
- 20.9km
- Time
- 6-8hr
- Grade
- Moderate
Cattle Ridge Hut, Tararua Forest Park
I began the climb to Cattle Ridge Hut with the ominous words of one of my companions ringing in my ears: it’s the steepest* track in the Tararuas. While…
- Distance
- 9.3km
- Time
- To Roaring Stag Hut, 4hr; To Cattle Ridge Hut, 2-2.5hr
- Grade
- Easy/Moderate
Totara Flats Hut via Tutuwai Hut, Tararua Forest Park
This trip begins in the most exciting way possible: walking across one of the country’s highest and longest suspension bridges. The bridge over the Waiohine River is 124m long…
- Distance
- 30.2km
- Time
- Waiohine Gorge to Tutuwai Hut, 4hr; To Totara Flats Hut via Cone Ridge, 7.5hr; To Waiohine Gorge Road end, 3.5hr
- Grade
- Easy/Moderate
Field Hut and Table Top, Tararua Forest Park
Field Hut and Table Top, Tararua Forest Park If it has been more than a year since your last tramp, like it had been for me, the three hour…
- Distance
- 6km
- Time
- 1-3hr to hut
- Grade
- Easy
Turere Lodge, Remutaka Forest Park
When my husband wanted to go overnight tramping for his 40th birthday, along with our two kids and three other families, I was hesitant. The last time I had…
- Distance
- 5.9km
- Time
- 2-3hr
- Grade
- Easy
Dorset Ridge Hut and Mid King Bivouac, Tararua Forest Park
This three-day loop in the Tararua Range features unique huts and a nice mix of track, route and off-track travel. We beat the Queen’s Birthday traffic by leaving Wellington…
- Distance
- 32km
- Time
- o Mitre Flats Hut, 3-5hr; Mitre Flats to Dorset Ridge Hut, 7-8hr; Dorset Ridge to Mid King Bivouac, via Dorset Creek, 6-7hr; Mid King to car park, 7-8hr
- Grade
- Difficult
Kapakapanui Hut, Tararua Forest Park
A mid-week refresher There is nothing worse than sitting at a desk in Wellington looking out over the sun-drenched Tararua Range and not being able to lace your boots until…
- Distance
- 10.8km
- Time
- Road end to hut, via southern track, 3-4hr; Hut to road end, via northern track, 2-3hr
- Grade
- Easy
Peggys Peak to South King, Tararua Forest Park
Most have heard of the Seven Summits challenge, where climbers scale the highest point on each of the world’s seven continents. But there’s also a seven summits challenge much…
- Distance
- 31.6km
- Time
- Car park to Mitre Flats Hut, 3-4hr; Hut to Peggys Peak, 3-4hr; Peggys Peak to South King, 5-7hr; Baldy Ridge to Mitre Flats Hut, 3-4hr
- Grade
- Difficult
Tararua Southern Crossing, Tararua Forest Park
From Otaki Forks, a footbridge crosses the Waiotauru River and begins the climb towards Field Hut. The track initially passes through regenerating scrub, but soon enters more mature forest…
- Distance
- 34km
- Time
- 3-4 days. Otaki Forks to Field Hut, 2.5-3hr; To Kime Hut, 2.5-3hr; To Alpha Hut, 4-5hr; To Kaitoke via Marchant Ridge, 6-8hr
- Grade
- Moderate/Difficult
Totara Flats Hut, Tararua Forest Park
In late summer, the grassy expanses of Totara Flats become a sun-baked golden brown, with the small totara copses offering shady lunch spots or sheltered camping. Several huts have…
- Distance
- To Totara Flats Hut, 10km; through trip to Waiohine Gorge Road, 18.7km
- Time
- Mt Holdsworth Road to Totara Flats Hut, 4-6hr; Totara Flats to Waiohine Gorge Road, 3-4hr
Te Au and Parata tracks, Hemi Matenga Memorial Park Scenic Reserve
Birdsong on Te Au The Te Au Track starts in the aptly named Tui Crescent – where we were serenaded by tui swooping, diving and chortling. It involves some…
- Distance
- 6.54km
- Time
- 3-3.5hr
- Grade
- Easy
Waiohine Gorge to Otaki Forks via Neill Ridge, Tararua Forest Park
An alternative Southern Crossing From a casual glance at the map, Neill Ridge looks like a handy shortcut to the Tararua Southern Crossing. But look again and you’ll see…
- Distance
- 26.1km
- Time
- Road end to Cone, 5hr; Cone to removed Winchcombe bivvy site, 7hr; Bivvy site to Kime Hut, 3.5hr; Kime Hut to Field Hut, 2.5hr; Field Hut to Otaki Forks, 2.5hr
- Grade
- Moderate
Mitre Flats Hut, Tararua Forest Park
A rewarding scramble The promise of only four hours walking and a gentle gradient lured our group on an overnight trip to Mitre Flats Hut by way of Barra…
- Distance
- 7.35km
- Time
- 4-5hr return
- Grade
- Moderate
Broken Axe Pinnacles, Tararua Forest Park
The trip begins at the Holdsworth Road end, along the easy-going track to Atiwhakatu Hut. Be warned, this track is a remarkable juxtaposition to what lies just ahead, on…
- Distance
- 38.5km
- Time
- Holdsworth Lodge to Jumbo Hut, 4-5hr; Jumbo Hut to Broken Axe Pinnacles, 2-3hr; Pinnacles to Tarn Ridge Hut, 4-6hr; Tarn Ridge Hut to Mitre Flats Hut, 4-5hr; Mitre Flats Hut to Atiwhakatu Hut, 4-5hr; Atiwhakatu Hut to Holdsworth Lodge, 2-3hr
- Grade
- Moderate
Deliverance Cove Track, Wairarapa
Sometimes it’s nice to walk without a pack, even if that means the views you’ll find at your destination will not be as spectacular as those that can be…
- Distance
- 3.56km
- Time
- 2hr
- Grade
- Easy
Penn Creek Hut loop, Tararua Forest Park
Penn Creek Hut is a seldom-used and highly undervalued gem of a hut. A dedicated team of Victoria University Tramping Club members give the hut a solid spruce-up from…
- Distance
- 19.3km
- Time
- 4-6hr via Field Hut; 4-8hr via Otaki River
- Grade
- Easy/Moderate
Jumbo Holdsworth Circuit, Tararua Forest Park
This trip can be done in either direction. The route described here and shown on the map goes first to Jumbo Hut. From Holdsworth Lodge, strike out on the…
- Distance
- 21.2km
- Time
- Holdsworth Lodge to Jumbo Hut, 3-4hr; To Powell Hut, 3-4hr; To road-end, 3-4hr Distance 21.2km
- Grade
- Moderate
Arete Hut via Bannister, Tararua Forest Park
Tagging the 1500ers If you’re looking for a round-trip overnighter and you’re up for two big days, Arete Hut is definitely worth the effort. It’s a two-bed charmer nestled in…
- Distance
- 32.8km
- Time
- Kiriwhakapapa car park to Cow Creek Hut, 4hr; Cow Creek Hut to Arete Hut via Bannister and Arete, 8.5hr; Arete Hut to car park via Lancaster and Arete Forks Hut, 13hr
- Grade
- Difficult
Kaiparoro Track, Tararua Forest Park
A lonely grave For a remote, though relatively easy, track in Tararua Forest Park, with the reward of visiting the park’s loneliest grave site, head to Mt Bruce National…
- Distance
- 2.49km to summit
- Time
- 5hr return
- Grade
- Easy/Moderate
Eastern Hutt Hut, Tararua Forest Park
A rock’n-hopping day trip A day trip to Eastern Hutt Hut is perfect for those occasions when the Tararua tops are clagged in. But because the tramp involves river travel, it’s…
- Distance
- 8.84km to hut
- Time
- Car Park to Eastern Hutt Hut, 4hr
- Grade
- Moderate
Pinnacles Track, Putangirua Pinnacles Scenic Reserve
The badlands of Wellington A light rain fell as my boots crunched along the gravel riverbed. Ahead loomed a grey and ominous moonscape filled with towering rock formations. The conglomerate columns...
- Distance
- 4km
- Time
- 1.5-2hr return (riverbed only); 2.5-3hr return (riverbed/lookout)
- Grade
- Easy
Dundas Hut Loop, Tararua Forest Park
If you’re seeking a feeling of remoteness, without having to lug a heavy pack for days, then the route linking Dundas Ridge and Cattle Ridge in a loop from Putara…
- Distance
- 25.5km
- Time
- Car park to Dundas Hut, 10hr, Dundas Hut to car park via Cattle Ridge, 10hr
- Grade
- Moderate/Difficult
Mana Island, Mana Island Scientific Reserve
A 20-minute boat ride from the marina at Paremata was all it took to reach Mana Island. We skimmed across the sea, the houses behind us faded away and the…
- Distance
- 6.92km
- Time
- 2-3hr
- Grade
- Easy
McGregor Bivouac, Tararua Forest Park
There are many ways to get to McGregor Bivouac, a nice stopping point on a number of different accessible routes in the Tararuas and which also provides some great…
- Distance
- 12.8km to biv
- Time
- 8hr to McGregor Bivouac
- Grade
- Moderate
Bannister Crossing, Tararua Forest Park
Bannister has the reputation of being among the most arduous of all the Tararua’s many ridges. Starting from Kiriwhakapapa Campsite, the track starts out enclosed in forest; a world…
- Distance
- 33.1km
- Time
- 3-4 days
- Grade
- Difficult
Paekakariki Escarpment Track, Wellington
The newest section of the 3000km Te Araroa Trail opened in April 2016, positioned above SH1 between Pukerua Bay and Paekakariki. From the Pukerua Bay railway station car park, head...
- Distance
- 7.53km one way
- Time
- 2-4hr
- Grade
- Easy
Roaring Stag Hut, Tararua Forest Park
A few minutes down the track, cross a swingbridge and follow the Mangatainoka River for about an hour. It’s an easy walk with several short tracks along the way down...
- Distance
- 7.21km
- Time
- 4-5hr
- Grade
- Moderate
Mt Matthews, Rimutaka Forest Park
The Rimutaka Range is the most accessible high country on offer to Wellingtonians and, while it might not be the loftiest, the range has a rugged Tararua-like aspect to…
- Distance
- 11.7km
- Time
- 5-7hr
- Grade
- Moderate
Butterfly Creek, East Harbour Regional Park
This delightful picnic and camping spot has drawn Wellington walkers for generations and provides a retreat into a secluded wee valley dominated by beech forest. Kowhai Track is the…
- Distance
- 1.66km each way
- Time
- 1-1.5hr return
- Grade
- Easy
Kaitoke to Holdsworth Lodge, Tararua Forest Park
The eastern Tararua valleys offer sheltered tramping through fine bush, with a smattering of huts, excellent camping and plenty of swimming holes. During a hot summer, this route makes…
- Distance
- 36km
- Time
- 3 days
- Grade
- Moderate
Elder Hut, Tararua Forest Park
In clear weather, the Tararuas offer lovely views and, arguably, some of the best can be enjoyed between Mt Hector and Elder Hut, which sits just above the bush…
- Distance
- 41.3km
- Time
- Otaki Forks to Elder Hut via Mt Hector, 6-8hr; Mt Hector to Elder Hut, 3-4hr; Elder Hut to Otaki Forks via Waiotauru River, 8-10hr
- Grade
- Moderate
Girdlestone via Mitre Peak, Tararua Forest Park
The trail to Mitre Flats Hut only gains 70m but with plenty of ups and downs and tree roots. After a constant three-hour plod you,ll reach the 14-bunk Mitre…
- Distance
- 13.7km to Girdlestone
- Time
- Two days return
- Grade
- Moderate
Pukeatua Track, Tararua Forest Park
A tramp to Pukeatua, 812m, on a clear day promises magnificent views. Starting at Otaki Forks, you quickly gained altitude for the first 30 minutes, climbing steeply among kamahi…
- Distance
- 6.54km one way
- Time
- 6-8hr return
- Grade
- Moderate
Mid Waiohine Hut, Tararua Forest Park
There are a couple of ways to reach Mid Waiohine Hut, with the easiest and quickest being over Mt Holdsworth. It takes two hours to reach Powell Hut along…
- Distance
- 12.4km to Mid Waiohine Hut
- Time
- 5hr
- Grade
- Moderate
Mid King Bivouac, Tararua Forest Park
The well-trodden track from Holdsworth car park begins easily, with the final push up to Jumbo Hut, via the Raingauge Spur Track, cranking the calf muscles. From near the…
- Distance
- 29.5km
- Time
- 3 days
- Grade
- Moderate