Tararua Ranges

Warning: Weather in the Tararua Range is notorious for deteriorating rapidly. Be prepared for extreme conditions at all times. There can be gale-force winds and heavy rain. Snow can fall in any season. Be prepared to wait out storms or for streams to subside after heavy rain. Do not cross swollen streams. Be sure to fill in the intentions book at the start of the track.

The trail is divided into three stages of 1–2 days each, depending on fitness and weather conditions.

1. Poads Road (Levin) to Te Matawai Hut (900m), via Waiopehu Hut (960m)

2. Te Matawai Hut to Nichols Hut (1160m) via Dracophyllum Hut

3. Nichols Hut to Pārāwai Hut (Ōtaki Forks, Road End,100m) via Waitewaewae Hut (310m)  

See the note below regarding Otaki Forks Road access.

If exiting from the Mangahao-Makahika Track, walk approximately 7km down Gladstone Road to Poads Road on the left, crossing an old concrete bridge and walking uphill to the car park.

From Levin, take transport for 7km to the car park at the end of Poads Road.

Poads Road to Waiopehu Hut - 9km / 4-5hr

This route to Waiopehu Hut (960m 18 bunks) involves a climb of 800m. The track starts at a DOC notice board and initially crosses private farmland. Follow the blue posts and farm track.

The Ridge Track to Waiopehu Hut veers right soon after entering the bush. The track is marked through the forested areas and the alpine areas follow a very defined ridge with some marking where possible.There is a pleasant lunch spot at a clearing about half an hour before the hut. The Waiopehu Hut is at the bushline offering good views across the plains and east to Tararua high peaks.

Waiopehu to Te Matawai Hut - 6km / 4hr

The track climbs over Waiopehu Peak (1094m), Twin Peak (1097m), Richards Knob (985m) descends to Butchers Saddle (690m) before climbing to Te Matawai Hut. Ascent 500m, descent 600m.  Climb the 100 vertical metres to the shoulder of Waiopehu Peak, then desend and climb Twin Peak (with memorial for person killed in major storm 1936). This part of the track is in scrub, offering good views of surrounding hills. Descend through leatherwood and bush, then climb to Richards Knob where there is a track direction sign. At the intersection of Gable End and Dora Ridge Tracks, turn right (southeast) and follow Dora Ridge Track down to Butchers Saddle and up to its junction with the Yeates Track, that connects with the south branch of Ohau River.  Go right (southeast) and follow up the ridge to Te Matawai Hut and helipad.

Te Matawai to Dracophyllum Hut - 8km / 4-5 hours

This route to Dracophyllum Hut (1100m, 2 bunks) climbs Pukematawai (1432m), along the main range, over Butchers Knob (1158m) then through bush to Dracophyllum Hut. 700m ascent, 500m descent.

Follow Northern Crossing Track up the ridge to shoulder of Pukematawai (sign where Main Range Track starts). Much of track is above the bushline and can be covered in snow in winter (June -September).

Descend on the Main Range Track over various bumps to the bushline beyond Butchers Knob. Dracophyllum Hut is another hour away through beech forest. (Small hut with 2 bunks and water tank).

Dracophyllum Hut to Nichols Hut - 5km / 4 hours

The route to Nichols Hut (1160m, 6 bunks) climbs Puketoro (1152m), Shoulder of Kelleher (1142m) and Nichols (1242m) (all unmarked) along the Main Ridge to Nichols Hut. 

The track is mainly through bush, climbing into open at Puketoro and Kelleher (unmarked). At Kelleher Shoulder a cairn marks where the track descends down a steep tussock ridge, snaking down to bush. From here it follows an undulating ridge, finally climbing to the top of Nichols (unmarked) from where the track descends through tussock to the hut, east of the saddle.

Nichols Hut to Waitewaewae Hut - 8km / 4-5 hours

Route to Waitewaewae Hut (310m 16 bunks) via Mt Crawford 1462m. 380m ascent, 1240m descent.

• Note: In strong winds and rain it may be necessary to stop at Nichols Hut until weather clears.

Follow the ridge up the summit of Mt Crawford for great views of the Tararua Range, Kāpiti Island, the coast and possibly Mt Taranaki. Descend to Junction Knob, turn right to Shoulder Knob, where the track re-enters the bush, and descends steeply to the Ōtaki River (bridged) and then Waitewaewae Hut, where there is river swimming. 

Waitewaewae Hut to Parawai Lodge - 10km / 4-6 hours

Route to Parawai Lodge (100m altitude, 18 bunks) and Ōtaki Forks car park. Ascend to the Plateau (530m) then descend Saddle Creek (200m) and cross Ōtaki River swing bridge to the carpark. 250m ascent, 460m descent.

Follow the marked track down the terrace the hut is on. The wet weather track then climbs and crosses a number of gullies and streams before the climb to the Plateau. These streams can be difficult and dangerous to cross in heavy rain. Be prepared to let levels fall during wet weather.

Dry weather route: Follow the track to Ōtaki Forks for roughly 100m along the terrace then drop down the bank on the unmarked route and cross the Ōtaki River. Below here the river bends around to flow east. Cross back to the west bank on the bend and head to the orange marker by a side stream just below the long slip in the west bank. Follow the markers and track up this stream (Arapito Stream) to join the main wet weather track where it crosses Arapito Stream. This point is signposted.

After crossing Arapito Stream the track climbs up the valley crossing a number of gullies before reaching the Plateau. The track crosses Plateau Stream three times in a short distance before a short 20m to 30m climb to the saddle. From here the new track heads south along the ridge, climbing gently (the map still shows the old route closed by a large slip). There are a couple of flat boggy sections on the ridge. From the ridge, the new track crosses a steep slope before dropping down to the old tram track. A well-graded track leads from here to a swing bridge over the Ōtaki River. It then climbs over a terrace on the south side of the river before dropping to Pārāwai Lodge. The carpark and road are across another swing bridge beside the Waiotauru River.

There is a DOC warden located across the swing bridge near the overnight carpark.

If continuing on to the next section (Pukeatua) turn left at the road and continue for 2km to end of the road: camping area, and the start of Fenceline and Pukeatua Tracks. Ōtaki Township is 10km away down Ōtaki Gorge Road. Transport is recommended as the road is narrow and winding.

Important: The Otaki Forks Road was damaged by a slip in October 2021 and is currently impassible. Bypass walking tracks have been constructed, with varying success. Do not plan to exit or join Te Araroa at Otaki Forks without researching the current situation. Additional details in the Alerts section.