Route (Part 1): From Taupo, Highway 5 to Taharua Road, Taharua Road, Clements Mill Road, to start of Te Iringa Track. Te Iringa Track past old Te Iringa Hut site (hut burned down), across cabled swing bridge, continuing along Kaipo River, to Oamaru Hut. Poled route up Oamaru River becoming forest track over Whaitawhero Saddle, across and along Ngaruroro River to Boyd Hut. Poled route continuing along Ngaruroro River, re-crossing of river, linking to track to Tussock Hut. Poled route down Harkness Stream to Harkness Hut. Track and poled route past Te Pukeohikarua Hut (DOC) to Tira Lodge. Track and poled route past Ballard Hut turn-off and south along main Kaweka range past Kaweka J, Studholme Saddle, Castle Camp, to Kiwi Saddle Hut. Smith--Russell Track to Cameron carpark at Kuripapango on the Napier Taihape Road.

Route (Part 2): From Pipiriki, Wanganui River Road south past Jerusalem (Hiruharma), Ranana, Matahiwi, Koriniti, Atene, Omaka, Parikino, to Highway 4. Highway 4 past Upokongaro to Kaimatira Road. Kaimatira Road, No. 3 Line, Okoia Road, Matarawa Valley Road, Matarawa Hill Road, No. 2 Line to Fordell. Warrengate Road to Highway 3. Highway 3 to Whangaehu Beach Road, Bagotts Road, 4WD track to Ratana (0.5-km length gated at each end but permission from houses down Bagotts Road). Farm road from Ratana into forest, across Turakina River to Turakina Beach Road (1-km of this road unwalked). Turakina Beach Road to Koitiata. Beach south to Scott's Ferry, Parewanui Road to Scott's Ferry boat ramp, boat crossing of Rangitikei River, Scott's Ferry road to Tangimoana. Tangiomoana Beach Road to return to beach, beach south past Himatangi Beach to Foxton Beach. In Foxton Beach, Ocean Beach Road, Bond, Nash, Seabury, Bobbie, Shortt, Linklater, Hartley Streets to Manawatu Marina Boating Club and boat ramp. Boat crossing of Manawatu River to river beach opposite, ocean beach south to Waitarere, Waitarere Beach Road, Highway 1, Kawiu Road to Levin.

Towns/services: None for Part 1. Part 2: Jerusalem (lodging, 06-342-8190), Otumaire (campground), Omaka (camping/wood-shed stay, 06-342-5595), Upokongaro (Avoca hotel/meals), Wanganui (Arles B&B on Highway 4, 0.5 km south of Kaimatira road turn-off, 06-343-6557), Fordell (hotel/meals, 06-342-7896), Whangaehu (pub), Ratana (store), Koitiata (campground), Scott's Ferry (miminal campground), Tangimoana (store/motor camp), Himitangi Beach (uncertain of services), Foxton Beach (most everything), Waitarere (store/takeaways).

Maps: U18 Taupo, U19 Kaimanawa, U20 Kaweka, Kaweka Forest Park (274-12), S23, S24, S25 Levin, "The Whanganui River Road" brochure available in Raetihi visitor center, Kiwi Minimap of Palmerston North. Part of the Kaweka route is also described in a very useful book "101 Great Tramps in New Zealand" (by Mark Pickering, 2000).

Supplies: Package to Taupo Post Shop, Taupo, (07) 378.9090. Re-supply package originally mailed to friend in Takapau for mid-Ruahine re-supply collected and used to start Part 2.

Route notes: (1) The route given here through the Kawekas is one of the most used and "mainstream" ways to get through the region. When walked, it appears as one continuous track the entire distance from Clements Mill Road to Kuripapango, with just a few side tracks branching off in places, and a few other tracks leading to roads. The track is well formed and easy to follow the entire distance, even along poled routes. All the huts are in good shape and have water. Te Iringa and Kaweka Huts no longer exist. The swingbridge across Ngaruroro River at Ngaawapurua Hut no longer exists so the route past Te Pukeohikarua Hut is the only option. (2) There are multiple side-stream crossings along the Kaipo River to keep boots wet, the two crossings of the Ngaruroro River which are "impassible in flood," and a few dozen crossings and re-crossings of Harkness Stream as one heads down the stream gorge alternatively on one side or the other (good track cuts all along the stream, but no poles or markers to indicate crossings). After that, there are no more water crossings the route keeps to ridgetops the remaining way to Kuripapango. (3) The side track down to Te Pukeohikarua Hut needs work as it has washed out. (4) See journal for description of farm road and bridge from Ratana, which is on Waipu Farms property. Start of farm road is due-west from the south-east corner of town (continuation south-south-west of Ratana Road). Farm bridge is located within 200m of TUrakina Beach Road just before the river heads west and leaves it parallel course along the road, just south of a large sand dune/hill on the west side of the river. (5) The Turakina River has changed course and now crosses the beach farther north than marked on the topo. The old river course is now a long thin lake separating the beach from Koitiata. Upon leaving Koitiata, one has two choices: ford the lake at a marked location right in town (very shallow), or go south on 4WD tracks between lake and forest for some distance, eventually entering forest and continuing south, before returning to beach from forest track a kilometer or two south of Koitiata. I choose the second option, but didn't have too much navigation trouble (not thoughtless, however). (6) Boat ramp at Scott's Ferry is at eastern edge of the row of houses that make up the settlement, just past the minimal campground. Don't expect to find boats there, however. Boat ramp on southern side is 0.5-km east of ramp on northern side and at the end of a road leading into Tagimoana. (7) Boat ramp at Foxton Beach is through the town, on Hartley St on the river (marked by a lone house on the topo map), is developed, and seems to get considerable use. (8) For those interested, the exact logistics for my Kuripapango-to-Pipiriki transfer were as follows: hitchhike from Napier-Taihape road at Kuripapango to Taradale near Napier. Taxi to Napier airport, Avis rental car from airport to collect my resupply packages in Takapau and Pahiatua and deliver them to Levin motel. Return rental car in Wanganui for one-way rental, bus from Wanganui to Raetihi. In Raetihi, it appeared very difficult to hitchhike to Pipiriki, but I offered $40 and one kind local had his son drive me to Pipiriki (it was Christmas Eve and I wanted to get to Jerusalem that night).

Alternate Routes through Ruahines: the following was the original route information for the route from Kuripapango to Woodville that was abandoned.

From Kuripapango, Napier-Taihape Road, Comet Road to Comet Hut (DOC). Crest route past Komata (The Comet) peak, ford Tarauarau River to Shutes Hut (DOC). Track to Ruahine Hut (DOC). "No Man’s Road" to "No Man’s Hut". Poled route/track past Ohawai peak, Pohatuhaha, Parks Peak Hut (DOC) to Craigs Hut (DOC) at Makaroro Road.

From Craigs Hut on Makaroro Road to Longview Hut, there are several options depending on weather and my expected progress over the terrain as I learn what the terrain is like. The most ambitious option is to follow the crest of the main range almost the entire way, climbing up to Sparowhawk Bivy and going south all the way to just before Sawtooth Ridge, along Black Ridge to Daphne Hut, and then to Longview via the track to Kashmir Road and then the poled route to Pohangia Saddle (where track turns east, a stone cairn marks route up open tussock ridge up to Pohangina Saddle and Longview Hut). I will not attempt to traverse Sawtooth Ridge. I could also take the road from Craigs Hut south to the North Block Road end and reach the main range crest via Sunrise Hut and Armstrong Saddle, and then continue south to Black Ridge. Otherwise, there is a long road walk from Craigs Hut to Kashmir Road end, crossing Tutituki River out at Highway 50, and then up to Longview Hut. The track from North Block road to Smith Stream Hut, then to Hinerua Hut, then down to Tukituki River and onto to Daphne Hut was considered, but apparently much of that route is unmaintained, so I won't plan to go via Smith Stream Hut. I'd like to remain on the range crest as much as possible given skills and weather.

From Longview Hut, route/track/stream bed south past Te Pohatu, Cattle Creek Hut (DOC), Stanfeld Hut (DOC), riverwalk (West Branch Tamaki River), to track leading to Holmes Ridge Road, Holmes Ridge Road, steep down track, across river to carpark at Tamaki West Road. Tamaki West Road, Top Grass Road, Coppermine Road, Pinfold Road to Woodville. Possible side trip to Dannevirke before reaching Woodville.

Alternate route (high water): From Kuripapango, if the weather makes the Taruarau River too high to cross, then road to Pohokura Station (permission from Jack Roberts at Timahanga Station), down into Ikawatea River, up river to Ikawatea Forks Hut. Climb opposite the hut (not tracked, but an easy route) onto the Mangaone Plateau and to Ruahine Corner Hut (the hut is visible across the plateau, on the edge of the tussock). Track across main Ruahine range to Upper Makaroro Hut (DOC) and then to Parks Peak Hut to continue normal route.

Alternate route (good weather): From Ruahine Corner Hut, turn south at crest of main range and follow crest all the way south to Armstrong Saddle, track past Sunrise Hut (DOC) and Triplex Hut (DOC), to end of North Block Road to continue normal route.

Alternate route (good weather): From Hinera Hut to Daphne Hut via Black's Ridge past Tarn Bivy.

Alternate route (good weather): From Daphne Hut to Longview Hut via Daphne Spur, Howletts Hut (HTC), Daphne Ridge (poled route), Taumatatarua, Otumore.

Ruahine Maps: U21 Kereru, U22 Ongaonga, U23 Dannevirke, T23 Kimbolton, T24 Palmerston North, Ruahine Forest Park (274-05).

Page updated December 30, 2003