Pirongia to Waitomo

Take the gravel Māhoe Road which extends beyond the woolshed, and keep heading south 500m past a Department of Conservation sign; "Ōmarāma Scenic Reserve".

Immediately south of the Māhoe Road/Orongo Road intersection, there is a stile where you head east onto farmland.

The route heads due east following a fence line, with a couple of up and downs and small waterway crossings, however these can be crossed easily.

1km in, you will encounter a grass airstrip. It will likely not be in use, however, please take caution. If the airstrip is in use, do not cross until invited, please note as below:

This airstrip is a high-risk area. If the airstrip, and/or the fertiliser shed adjacent, is in use – wait where the signs indicate, attract the attention of the site manager, and await their instruction to cross. 

After crossing the airstrip, continue along the marked fence line some 400m, which eventually joins a graded track. Follow the track 700m until a stile takes you across a fence and into a neighbouring property.  The route continues to follow a fence line 1.5km through cut scrub until crossing another stile by the edge of more mature forest.

A lovely walk through the forest follows – navigate carefully the first 500m along the ridge, then it is slippery when wet on the downhill slopes. There is a crossing of the Moakurarua Stream partway along the track. In "normal" weather, the stream will be no deeper than knee height but can rise after heavy rain. Be prepared to wait it out and if that's the case, it is recommended that you head north back along the track to higher ground.

Once you are over the stream, there is a gentle uphill before entering a track - lookout for the markers on the right. The track is based on the old logging routes, note the hand-formed rock cuttings. Occasionally you'll get a good view out across the forest.

Follow the markers through to the northern end of Ngatapuwae Road.

Walk (approx. 2.5km) the length of Ngatapuwae Road (south/southeast) into Te Anga Road. Down the hill and just before the roundabout intersection, it joins up (to the right) with DOC's Waitomo Walkway which follows beside the Waitomo Stream through a mixture of shady forest and open farmland. Turn east and follow the track into Waitomo Village. (Note: The Waitomo Walkway crosses Te Anga Road, so it is possible to walk the final 1km to Waitomo Village along the road).