Kerikeri to Waitangi

  • Walking
Difficulty
Easy
Length
20 km
Journey Time
4-5 hours
Region
Northland
Sub-Region
Far North
Part of Collections
Te Araroa - New Zealand's Trail , Te Araroa - North Island

Te Araroa section: Journey from historic Kerikeri through Kororipo Pa, Waitangi Forest and Mt Bledisloe to the iconic Treaty Grounds at Waitangi. 

From the historic Kemp House and Stone Store on Kerikeri Basin, leave Kerikeri Road and follow the Kororipo Pā Track, which curves around the headland to the southeast. 

Once on the headland, follow the wide pasture track southwest until a Department of Conservation marker post identifies a track heading southeast down into a gully and over a pedestrian bridge to Pā Road. 

Walk southeast up Pā Road and turn northeast into Kerikeri Inlet Road. Continue for 2km to a forest gate and the northern end of Te Wairoa Road, the start of the Waitangi Forest Track. This route includes footpaths, grass, easy walking tracks and a road berm.

Waitangi Forest Track — 14.5km / 3 hours

As it leaves Kerikeri Inlet Road, the trail ascends gradually through young pines for 2.6 km to a road junction. Enter into Waitangi forest at Te Wairoa road entry point, then follow Te Wairoa road until you turn right onto Te Puke and exit at the Mt Bledisloe gate. Keep a close eye on navigation, or use a GPS to connect to Te Puke Rd.

This forest has active logging operations. Be extremely careful of logging trucks and harvesting activities.

In partnership with Ngati Hapu Ki Waitangi:

  • Wear a high-vis vest/jacket throughout the forest for personal safety and to increase walker visibility for logging truck drivers.
  • Stay on the track and do not deviate from the track for your safety.
  • Trees may be felled within two tree lengths of the track.
  • Heed all signs and do not enter areas marked as closed.
  • Be aware of tree felling within

At this point, anyone with interest in Te Araroa history may want to make a quick detour by turning northwest up Te Puke Road, and a short way up, you can see a plaque and Te Araroa cairn, assembled from local volcanic rock by Kerikeri sculptor Chris Booth and restored in 2014. This marks the opening of this route; the very first Te Araroa track.

Turn southeast onto Te Puke Road and continue on 1km to pass Mt Bledisloe (105m) before turning east onto Haruru Falls Rd. Laving the forest behind you, emerge onto Tau Henare Drive, Waitangi. Follow the road through the Waitangi Golf Course past the Waitangi Treaty Grounds and continue down to the Waitangi Bridge.

Conditions

Track standard: easy tramping track

Potential hazards

  • Vehicles on road or track
  • Forestry operations
  • Bikes and horses

How to get here

Northern Start: Stone Store, Kerikeri

Southern End: Waitangi Bridge, Paihia

Transport

Accommodation

Food And Supply

Track Elevation and Map

Total 1 photos. Click image above to view them all.

More information

Northland trail notes, including information about accommodation, transport and resupplying

Kerikeri

  • Kororipo Pa served as a coastal village, a fortified base for war parties and a trading post

Waitangi

Waitangi Treaty Grounds 

  • Open daily from 9am to 6pm (January and February) and 9am to 5pm during the rest of the year.
  • Daily guided tours and Māori cultural performances are available.
  • Whare Waka Café is located within the Treaty Grounds. Hangi and Concert evenings are scheduled from 1 December to the end of March on Tuesday and Thursday evenings.
  • There are many side roads in this forest, so take care you are on the correct road.
  • The track passes through the Waitangi Endowment Forest — part of New Zealand’s conservation estate, a further gift to the nation by Lord Bledisloe in 1936.

Before starting Te Araroa either as a through-walker of the whole country or a section walker, please register on Te Araroa website. Please also visit the website or download the app for detailed maps, trail alerts and other relevant information.

 

We encourage you to continue gaining the skills and knowledge required for a safe trip. The NZ Mountain Safety Council has lots of free resources and information you can use. These can be accessed via www.mountainsafety.org.nz.

We recommend trying these online learning tools:

Additionally, check out the range of helpful videos available from the NZ Mountain Safety Council YouTube channel.

Mountain Safety Council Plan My Trip
Page last updated: Aug 30, 2023, 11:05 AM