Programme Overview

This well formed track offers spectacular views, beautiful bush and one of the largest Kauri trees in the Waikato.

Track overview:
Walking and tramping - 3 km loop
Easy Walking Track - 40 min / 2 hr

Description:
Kauri Grove
Time: 40 min one way
The track starts with a flight of stairs, then levels out to cross a largely open face with views to the north. Walk past an old pa site (hidden by vegetation) through regenerating native bush to a large Kauri tree, estimated to be over a thousand years old. A few minutes further on, and past the site of a large kauri that fell in 2009, the track passes through a grove of young Kauri (rickers) to a viewpoint that looks out across the forest. Return the way you cam or continue on to complete the full loop.

Full Loop
Time: 2 hr
From the viewpoint, climb up through stands of large Rimy to an excellent view point of Huntly and the North Waikato lakes. From here you can continue on the Hakarimata Walkway to the Southern lookougt (20 min, 700m) with views that extend across Hamilton and south to Tongariro National Park on a clear day. Otherwise continue on the loop track, descend through an attractive grove of Niaku palms to a lower viewpoint and the car park.

Getting there:
The track is 6.9km south of Huntly and 11.2 km north of Ngaruawahia. It starts from the end of Parker Road, off Hakarimata Road which connects these two towns.

For full details, see www.doc.govt.nz