Pehitawa Track

  • Walking
Difficulty
Medium
Length
14.8 km
Journey Time
6 hours
Region
Waikato
Sub-Region
Waitomo
Part of Collections
Te Araroa - New Zealand's TrailTe Araroa - North Island
Track maintained by
Te Araroa Trail Trust

Te Araroa trail section: Most of this section crosses farmland and bush but includes a small portion of road margin. Expect hills with 150m ascents and descents. It pauses on top of high karsts to gaze across the King Country's low agriculture and tumbled limestone hills that rise to formidable volcanic summits – north to Pirongia, east to Pureora, and south to Ruapehu.

 

From Waitomo Village, take the Hotel Access Road past the Tavern and School. Before the cattle stop, climb the stile on the left-hand side and follow the track completed in 2020 along a section of  the Waipa Faultline, which runs north south through the district. Here Limestone is uplifted on the western side. 

Cross Fullerton Road, then a stile, and follow the orange markers SE across open farmland, then up through a small gate and climb a hand-formed track. You'll pass some enormous boulders - these are thought to have come from the Mangakino explosion - some 60km away!

Once up and over the ridge, the track descends steeply through bush  this is very slippery when wet, so take care  and exits onto more farmland where you'll again follow markers SE along the fence line, climbing again through bush and onto a ridge. Climb through regenerating bush and the track takes a 90-degree turn towards the west, running through what Te Araroa veterans will remember (fondly?) as the infamous "Te Kuiti Tunnel of Gorse", now nicely opened up and easily passable.

Exiting the bush, head over a stile and follow the marked fence to the next stile; then continue along the fence line  now on the other side of it  and drop down to a farm race (giving way to any animals found on it). This is the farm of John Were. Look for a stile on the NE (left-hand) side after crossing a farm bridge over a stream and then head for a suspension bridge over the Mangapu River.

Once over the suspension bridge, the track heads through Pehitawa Forest  (Queen Elizabeth II Trust-covenanted land and one of the finest remaining stands of Kahikatea trees). Follow markers up a ridgeline to a fence near the top of the hill and over a stile to Oparure Rd.

Cross over the stile on the southern side of Oparure Rd onto Wicklow Farm's landholding. The trail, mostly on this property, meanders on both sides of the ridge, between the Mangapu and Mangaokewa valleys and along a smooth limestone rock farm track. 

At km 876.2, exit the farm race and climb to seldom used air strip (note that if in use, wait for instruction to pass safely). Descend to the south and follow the trail around the flank of Pehitawa Mast Hill (264 metres), then descend through Brook Park.

The Brook Park route may be closed for lambing between 1st July and 30th August. Leave the track at km 876.2 and exit via Gadsby Road to SH 3. Check Alerts and Trail Status for details 

Exit Brook Park onto Colin Brook Place. Follow this road to Eketone St and turn right (south), then follow it to take a left (east) at the junction with Hospital Rd. Follow Hospital Rd to Te Kumi Road (SH3) and go South towards the centre of Te Kuiti township.

Note two fine statues a tribute to Sir Colin Meads (one of NZ's finest rugby players) adjacent to the railway station, and the shearing statue at the south end of Rora St.

West of the Statue Te Tokanganui a noho can be seen, this historic marae was built in 1873 under the director of the Maori leader and prophet Te Kooti.

Conditions

  • Vehicles on road or track
  • Farming operations – move steadily and quietly through livestock
  • Open drains
  • Track exposed to sun, wind or cold
  • Steep, muddy and slippery in parts

How to get here

Northern Start: Waitomo Walkway carpark, Waitomo Village

Southern End: Rora Street, Te Kuiti

Transport

Accommodation

Food And Supply

  • Te Kūiti Superette - 205 Rōra St, Te Kūiti - P: 07 878 8333
  • New World Supermarket - 39 Rora Street, Te Kūiti - P: 07 878 8072  Open 7.00am - 8.00pm Daily

Track Elevation and Map

More information

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

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: Oct 24, 2023, 4:30 PM