Totara Park to Mangatāwhiri

Exit the Botanic Gardens into Wairere Road, and follow it to its end. Turn right/southwest into Hill Road and follow that down 300m to a three-way roundabout. Turn left/southeast into Stratford Road, for 600m to a large roundabout intersection.

Previously Te Araroa included part of the Hunua ranges. The trail was damaged by a storm in 2015-16, and devising a suitable detour without encroaching on private land proved difficult. Later concerns around kauri dieback disease resulted in a complete closure of Hunua hiking trails for a time. Te Araroa was adapted to follow an alternative route that used minor roads through Clevedon and Hunua village to reach SH2. The long road walk to Clevedon included some sections considered dangerous. A further modification eliminated the walk to Hunua village and moved the trail closer to the main highway using urban roads.

The bypass starts here for 36.5km in a direct line to return to the trail through urban areas as much as possible for footpaths.

Turn right/southeast into Ranfurly Road. Head along Ranfurly Road for 150m and turn left into Porchester Road. Follow Porchester Road for 5km until it bends left into Ingram Street. Take the first right into Prictor Street, cross the five way junction/roundabout South into Marne Road. Turn right into Settlement Road, cross over the railway then after 650m, turn left into Great South Road. You will pass historic Kirks Bush Scenic Reserve on the right/west. 

Follow Great South Road for 3.7km to the roundabout in Drury, km 651.8

Turn left (east) across the bridge onto Waihoehoe Road and continue 2.7 km to the end, then turn right (south) onto Drury Hills Road.  At the intersection with Fitzgerald Road turn left (south) down the hill on Jack Stevenson Road through the new industrial development.  At the southern end of Jack Stevenson Road (km 657.4) there is a pedestrian path through to Ramarama Road.

At the end of Ramarama Road turn right into Ararimu Road past the school and then leftt (south) into Hillview Road.

Follow Hillview Road for 4 km and cross Portsmouth Road into Barber Road for 1km.  After passing the school on your right turn right (west) down Paparata Road towards Bombay.  Turn left into Bombay Road and continue onto Razorback Road.  Pass Beaver Road East on your right.  Turn left (east) into Puketutu Road and after 1 km enter the Mt William Walkway for break from road walking.

At the southern end of the Mt William Walkway continue south on McMillan Road for a short distance, then right (south again) onto Irish Road to meet State Highway 2 (SH2). 

Turn left/east along the SH2 for 2km. This is an extremely busy road with limited road shoulder.  Cross careful into Serpell Road

Northbound directions from Hillview Road (km 659) to the Drury roundabout at km 651.2

Included here because the route has changed in early 2021 and the Drury South Crossing construction area requires extra care.

At the northern end of Hillview Road turn right on Ararimu Road, past the school, then left into Dale Road.  At the northern end of Dale Road there is a pedestrian footpath through to Jack Stevenson Road.  Walk north on Jack Stevenson Road for 1.5 km.  At the top of the hill turn right (east) into Drury Hill Road.  After 2.5 km turn left (west) into Waihoehoe Road.  Follow this for 2.8 km to the roundabout on Great South Road (km 651.8).  Turn right.