Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Creek
, with a dark and lush grotto upstream, and then climbs to a signposted spur track
leading to a pair of kauri trees, reached two hours (5km) from the hut. It's a short descent to
these impressive giants, with one so large four people couldn't link arms around the trunk.
It's hard to imagine that at one time most of Great Barrier Island was covered with trees like
these.
The road descends to cross
Kiwiriki Stream
and then makes the longest climb of the day,
a steady 30-minute (1.5km) march towards Maungapiko (280m). You top out near Kiwiriki
Track (right) and a short spur track to
Maungapiko Lookout
. This rocky outcrop is a
20-minute side trip to fine views of the island's west coast. Forest Rd descends to reach a
junction with
Pack Track
(right), 30 minutes from the lookout.
Continue along Forest Rd to the junction of the
Tramline Track
, which leads south to
Green Campsite, an hour or so away.
Should you decide to skip the side trip to Green Campsite, continue on Tramline Track
North towards Kaitoke Hot Springs Track. The wide track drops steeply through the rugged
terrain to Kaitoke Creek No 2, ascends on the other side, and then descends again to a tribu-
tary of Kaitoke Creek No 1. It follows the stream, gradually dropping towards the eastern
side of the island, until it arrives at a signposted junction for Kaitoke Hot Springs Track.
Head right (southeast) on Kaitoke Hot Springs Track, which immediately crosses Kaitoke
Stream. It then climbs steadily to a ridge, where there are excellent views of Kaitoke
Swamp, the surrounding ridges and the crashing surf of Kaitoke Beach to the east.
Before long you will reach the Whangaparapara Rd trailhead, thus closing the loop. Be-
fore you go, be sure to check out the massive stone walls of the
Oreville stamping battery
,
above and below Whangaparapara Rd. They are an impressive reminder of the mining peri-
od.
SIDE TRIP: GREEN CAMPSITE
2-3 HOURS, 6KM RETURN
From the junction of Forest Rd and the Tramline Track, head south on the latter towards
Green Campsite. On the way, you can detour to
Kauri Falls
, where a 3m waterfall empties
into a swimming pool.
Continue on the Tramline Track right (southwest), crossing bridges over several small
streams and passing signposted junctions to Withey's Track and the Mt Whangaparapara
Track. Within 30 minutes you arrive at a fenced paddock. Step over the fence and arrive at a
junction just before a footbridge.
