Tuahu track

Start at the end of Hot Springs Road, off SH2 and follow the marked track. A ten minute detour will take you to the Tuahu Kauri, a mature stand of kauri trees. The Tuahu Track continues up for 15 mins to cross the Te Rereatukahia Stream before climbing on moderate grade, sidling in and out of gullies for a further hour before meeting the North South Track at the summit.

Past the sumit the track sidles around the steep western escarpment of the Kaimai Range offering many views over the Waikato. Also visible are the Killarney Lakes below.

The track descends gradually until it meets the Waihou Valley Pine Forest, leaving the Forest Park. The track leaves the bridle track and follows access roads through private forestry for one hour to Wairakau Road.

Getting there

Located within the Kaimai Mamaku Forest Park, this track begins at the end of Hot Springs Road, just south of Katikati off SH2.

Know before you go

Consult a topographic map.

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 (external site) 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.

Source: Department of Conservation (Banner image: 'Kauri Tree at Kaimai Mamaku Forest Park' by Christoph Strässler / Creative Commons)