Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
8
Getting to/from the Tramp
Whirinaki Te Pua a Tane Conservation Park is 90km southeast of Rotorua. The northern end
of the track is 7km from Minginui, near the end of River Rd, which is picked up west of the
village. It's a 1½- to two-hour walk along River Rd from Minginui. Hitching may be pos-
sible because the popular Waterfall Loop day walk begins at the car park.
The southern end of the track is at the end of Plateau Rd, which is accessible either by
forest roads from Minginui or from SH5 (Napier-Taupo Rd), 2.5km south of Iwitahi. From
SH5, turn north onto Pohokura Rd. After 1.5km turn left onto Waipunga Rd and follow it
for 19km, then turn right at the signposted intersection and follow the signs for 'Whirinaki
Track'.
Two Minginui-based shuttle companies offer transport to and from the trailheads.
Jail-
(and the Okahu Rd car park, on the northeastern edge of the park) for $50 minimum charge.
Whirinaki Forest Holidays (
Click here
)
offers transport to all the park's main entrances, as
well as car storage. If you have your own wheels, it's $100 per vehicle to be dropped off at
River Rd car park from Minginui and then picked up at Plateau Rd.
The Tramp
Day 1: River Road Car Park to Central Whirinaki Hut
5 HOURS, 16KM
The River Rd car park sets the scene for this tramp, being surrounded by huge podocarps.
Pick up the track, clearly signposted, and in less than 1km the track passes the return track
of the Waterfall Loop and then descends to a bridge over the impressive
Te Whaiti-nui-a-toi
Canyon
, where the river cuts through an ancient lava flow. From here you follow the true
right bank of the
Whirinaki River
for the rest of the day, on the
Lower Whirinaki Track
.
Thirty minutes from the car park you pass a junction with the track to Moerangi Hut (nine
bunks), five hours (13km) away. In another 30 minutes the track crosses Upper Mangamate
Stream and then passes a signposted junction to Mangamate Hut (nine bunks), which is 2½
hours (4.5km) away.
From here it's a 200m detour to
Whirinaki Falls
where cascading water drops 8m into a
large pool in the river, an impressive sight that can be viewed from several angles.
