Whakatiri Track

Dogs No Dogs

Features Birding · River/Creek · Views

A pleasant enough run with a wide tread that is only muddy in spots.

From the Long Road Track, the Whakatiri Track starts through a gate and heads along a doubletrack downhill to start. The trail here runs between two electric fences and is easy to follow at this point. There is a small stream crossing that can be a bit boggy after rain.

You'll then come to another gate and, surprisingly, a frisbee golf course in the middle of a large pasture. The trail here becomes vague, and you'll want to look for orange-blazed posts, keeping to the top (south) end of the pasture. If you end up following the yellow-blazed frisbee golf posts or the white equestrian blazes, you may find yourself downhill from the enclosed Pae O Te Rangi Campsite - a sign that you are no longer on the trail (not that I would know this from personal experience. Some days, I just enjoy wandering around in a cow field).

The trail exits the the southeast corner of the pasture and heads on a rolling and wide grass downhill surrounded by thick underbrush. At the bottom of this hill, you'll continue east, skirting a small stream. There are sections that can be muddy.

Near the end of the track, you'll eventually come to a creek crossing where you'll have to ford the stream. You'll probably end up with wet shoes here unless you are a talented rock hopper. From here, the trail cuts across the base of a golf course green to end back at the parking lot.

Lowland podocarp and broadleaf forest. Fantails and tuīs in the woods; paradise ducks and pūkeko in the pasture/frisbee golf course.