Mount Pirongia Tramping Tracks
 Wharauroa Lookout This takes about 2 and a half hours from the grey road car park. The ascent is gradual at first, as you get closer to the lookout it becomes a lot steeper. After about 2 hours you'll come to a rocky patch with good views of the eastern part of the mountain. This is pretty cool but another half an hour or so takes you to the lookout itself which gives you a much better view. |
Ruapune Lookout
The easiest way to get to Ruapune Lookout is from Corcoran Rd. From there it is only about 1 hour to get there. The walk is not too difficult and although it does get steep towards the end it's still accessible by people with low fitness levels. It's a great place to go with the family or friends for a quick walk on the weekend. There aren't many walks around that are this easy with such great views.
Tirohanga Peak
This is about 45 minutes to an hour on the Tirohanga track from Ruapune Lookout. There is a steep rock outcrop here which can easily be climbed if you're confident on your feet.
Mahaukura Track (To Summit)
This track goes from Grey Rd on past Wharauroa Lookout and up to the summit. It takes about 4-6 hours to reach the top. After the lookout there are quite a few ups and downs along the way, so it requires a reasonable level of fitness.
Tirohanga Track (To Summit)
Starting from Corcoran Rd this is the shortest way to the summit. It takes you past Tirohanga
A great loop with the summit in the middle. The whole loop is about 14km. It takes in Mahaukura, the summit, Tirohanga and Ruapane peaks along the way.
Bell Track (To Summit)
The longest track to the summit, the Bell track also branches off from the Nikau walk and takes 8-10 to get to the top. There is good camping at the clearing marked as the halfway point, with a small creek for a water supply. From here you continue on to the cone which is the second highest peak on the mountain. The cone is only about 20m lower than the main summit and it offers better views out to the west over Raglan and Kawhia harbours.
Tahanui Track (To Summit)
This track starts from the Kaniwhaniwha car park next to the stream. The first part of the track is called the Nikau walk and follows the stream through farmland for about 40 minutes before reaching the forest. It takes 3-5 hours to reach the top and there are a few steep sections to test your fitness. This track can be combined with the Bell track to make a rather long loop track. Most people will probably want to split this over two days but it can be done in a long day of 9-12 hours if you've got the fitness to keep up a good pace for that long.
The Summit
There is a fairly large lookout tower here to get you above the trees for a fantastic view. On a clear day you can see Mount Taranaki.
Pahautea Hut
This is the only hut in the Pirongia forest park. It's about 20-30 minutes to get to the summit from the hut. You'll only pass the hut on the way to the summit if you're on the Bell track. The hut sleeps 6-8 people comfortably. It pays to take a sleeping mat so you can sleep on the floor if the bunks are full. The hut fee is $5 per night. There is no fireplace