Explore the most popular wildlife trails in Waikato with hand-curated trail maps and driving directions as well as detailed reviews and photos from hikers, campers and nature lovers like you.
Great track - a good workout. Definitely take some hiking boots (35$ from the warehouse did me proud on this). This took us around 2.30 hours to the summit, and 2.10 back down, we're average hikers at best.
Its a fun hike, dont ruin your good shoes and take care on the drive up - its a long gravel road, we had a few near misses!
Pretty awesome day walk, quite muddy and slippery. Take some gloves with you as you will be using your hands a lot.
The view from the top is pretty hard to beat.
There are multiple river crossings. It made the journey to see the kauri’s very interesting, you definitely had to earn it!
Likely a great ride for mountain bikers, but sadly not a great walk for hikers due to the high number of high speed and non-track sharing bikers - very sad! Hey bikers if you can't see what's around the corner, please be prepared to stop ' thanks. The track its self is good and firm, and wanders it's way through regenerating bush above the lake. The lookout points were a little disappointing due to plant over growth blocking what would be great views. It's a long trek on foot so, take water and snacks and make a day of it. Oh, and take care on the tight corners, chances are you'll get a least one or two high speed surprises.
Amazing view on the top, very muddy. 2h30 to go on the top and 1h15 to go down.
One of the best hike in NZ !!
Caution with your car, some people see when you go to the hike and they try to rob your stuff inside your car..
Pretty challenging hike with amazing views at the top. Chain sections on way up is the best part.
A gentle amble which follows a gravel road / path and ends up in the bush. Relaxing and pleasant. Has a picnic area at the end.
This is a great ride, picturesque and good for all levels of riders or walkers. This track follows the river to Aritiatia from spa park, and goes over a nice hot stream at the beginning.(which you can soak in at the waikato river). This track actually goes on, by crossing the Aratiatia bridge you can follow the mountain bike signs, and you end up back at Wairakei, and if you still have energy you can carry on either the track back to spa park, or on the Hwy 1 side back to Taupo, so you end up doing a big loop. Sometimes from Aritiatia back to Taupo this way can be a big confusing but just follow your nose or easier still a GPS. Have fun.
A great ride, and would rate it grade 3 because some people would not like the hills, which are not that bad but to some people they would be. If you want to arrange a vehicle at each end it may suit some people. Definitely worth the ride, or walk.
2.30 hours going to the top and back. Running and hiking. Nice and muddy. You must go with hiking shoes!
Awesome trail
Překrásný trek, ale dost obtížný.
Great walk. Took a good few hours with the kids.
Pretty challenging, if it’s just rained I would recommend giving it a few days or having some sturdy walking shoes as you will get muddy. Awesome views and pretty rewarding. Definently one of the more interesting day walks in nz.
Good ride which takes just under an hour with a full pack of climbing and camping gear
So much fun and so challenging too. Definitely need a decent level of fitness, confidence and agility for this one!
great ride definitely not easy a grade 3 in my opinion lots of switch backs
Definitely my favourite and most challenging day
hike in NZ
Long trail.
Amazing hike with killer views. A few exciting chain sections as well.
The last 4km of unsealed Whaanga road leads to the start of the track. Just uphill from the start. Around 1hr to get to the lookout, and 0.6hr to the summit. Great view.
Beautiful walk and can be combined with the Windows Walk/loop. The walk follows the gorge most of the way, with a large tunnel towards the end. Some good swimming holes and river access in many places. Take a torch and wear good footwear as there are some dangerous pieces of steel sticking up in a few places.
A good challenging up hill climb with stunning views
I loved this track although went out to do 18kms as described and turned wrong which shortened the run to 8.6!
Only did the last half or so of this trail into Huka falls, but the trail was nice and well maintained. Fairly easy going through bush alongside the Waikato river. The falls offers up some pretty nice views as well.