Kahurangi Outpost

After driving across the Banjo Creek Bridge (on your way to The Outpost) you will wind your way up a long hill. Once on the top look for a sign on the left that says “Knuckle Hill”. Park your car - this is where you begin walking. to the top of Knuckle Hill climbing to a height of 506 m. The distance is 5 km one way. There are great views over Westhaven, Farewell Spit, sometimes even Mt Taranaki/Mt Egmont on a clear day. This is an excellent tramp for a fine winter’s day.

The first 3.5km is the old logging road and can be mountain biked over. Some enthusiasts have biked to the top!

Back to Index

Kaituna Track NZMS M25

This tramp is 17.4 km one way. After driving across the Banjo Creek you will wind your way up a long hill. Once on the top you will see a wonderful view of the entrance to Westhaven Islet. Enjoy the view. Look for a sign that says “Knuckle Hill”. You can park off the road on the side of this track. Start walking from here. You will initially be following the old logging road for about 4.3 km. From the end of the old logging road the next 13.1 km of track you will follow are lightly marked to the top of Knuckle Hill. You need to allow up to 7 or 8 hours in total, depending on fitness. There are some steep bits and two river crossings which may be very swift or deep after heavy rain. DOC publish trip notes about this track at 50 cents. This used to be the part of the way to the Tai Tapu goldfields.

Back to Index

Patarau to Anatori or reverse NZMS M25

This coastal walk is 8.4 km one way. It is best to use two vehicles, (unless you want to walk both ways). We recommend that you leave one vehicle at the Patarau River mouth. To get there you turn right out of The Outpost and drive about 10kms to the Patarau River bridge. Cross it, turn right and drive to the beach. Leave one car there, all pile into the other car and drive to the Anatori River mouth. Those doing the walk can now enjoy a very beautiful coastal walk back to the vehicle at the Patarau River mouth. This beach walk is best at low tide. Anatori River to Sandhill Creek is approx 4 km. Sandhill Creek to Patarau River is 4.4 km. You may like to swim in rock pools at low tide and picnic on the way. There are some very impressive rock formations.

Back to Index

Anatori River to Turimawiwi River NZMS M25

From the Anatori River mouth you walk along the beach for 6.3 km (one way) to the Turimawiwi River. This walk must be done at low tide to get past the Kaipuke Cliffs. It is a very scenic walk and another step closer to the Kahurangi lighthouse.

Back to Index

Turimawiwi River to Kahurangi Lighthouse NZMS L25/M25

After leaving the Turimawiwi River you can walk 3.4 km to the Anaweka River and another 3.2 km more to Big River (fordable 1 hr either side of low tide when not in flood or discoloured). Another 2.8 km more will take you to the DOC house which is spacious and was once the home of the lighthouse keeper. The lighthouse is just over another km. further on and a nice easy stroll the next morning for that special photograph to show that you have made it.

For more data on the lighthouse see http://www.lighthouses.net.au/nz_lights/kahurangi.htm

Back to Index

Kahurangi Lighthouse to Heaphy River NZMS L25/L26

Only 30 km but very, very tough and only to be undertaken by the fittest and most resourceful of trampers. It is written up in the New Zealand Geographic Number 14 April June 1992, and we would advise you to read this article if you are thinking of attempting the tramp. Sometimes an eight hour day produced 4 km of progress for these adventurous and exhausted trampers. There will be times when you will need to wait for the tide to recede before you can continue and ropes will be needed to scale cliffs where the beach is impassable. This is a challenge not to be attempted lightly.

Back to Index

Lake Otuhie

Permission is required from Alistair Pearson at 5248575.

Your access, and that of others to follow, depends on farmer goodwill. You must ring first. If you don’t have permission please don’t go. Return with all rubbish. Bury your toilet waste well (take an implement). Permission may be refused because of lambing, fire risk, bulls etc.

On leaving Kahurangi Outpost turn right out of the gate and drive 5km to the Patarau River and then another 5kms to Sandhill Creek. Drive across the bridge and through the gate. Park here. Walk upstream alongside Sandhills Creek for 5 minutes and ford a stream (or go upstream to keep your feet dry) to a grassy flat. (You are at point 019 on the map below).

OTUHIE LAKESIDE – 3.2kms return (Point 018)

Walk up the left side of the grassy flat with the flax bushes and the stream on your left. Where the way narrows pick a route under the cliffs using the stock tracks. About 10 minutes past the wooden railings and wooden gate is a very nice wee beach (if the lake is low!)

Back to Index

SHORT WALKS

1) Check out the hall (or the notice board) for numerous short walks through the Mangarakau Swamp Reserve. Walk quietly and listen for the birdsong. Bitterns can be heard booming in spring and most of the summer months.

2) The “Lookout Tree” takes 10 minutes to reach from the right back corner of The Outpost land. Hop over the fence, veer right and cross the creek. Veer left to find the first red marker tape. Follow the red tape markers uphill to a big rata tree for a fantastic view over the swampland and beyond. From this tree there is a magnificent view over Mangarakau that was well known to many Mangarakau pupils when this was a school and the surrounding bushland a wonderful playground.

Back to Index

Lunar Bluffs

This tramp has magnificent coastal views from high up on the Luna Bluffs. It over private farmland owned by Jock and Joyce Wyllie. Your access, and that of others to follow, depends entirely on farmer goodwill. You must ring first. The number is 5248364. If you do not have permission then please don’t go! Return with all rubbish. Bury your toilet waste well. Permission may be refused because of lambing, fire risk, bulls etc. Tomos (sinkholes) are common so beware! Like all tramps you proceed at your own risk. Take care and you will have a wonderful day.

Take the Kaihoka Lakes turnoff - which you passed on your way to the Outpost. It is not far after the tarseal ends. The Kaihoka Lakes are worth taking a detour to look at and to have a refreshing swim in if it is Summer time.

Return to the Kaihoka Station farm buildings. Take the turnoff to the left past the sign that says “No Public Access”. Drive past the sheds and house and veer left. Follow the track (gate) past the red hayshed (gate) and proceed up over a small hill (gate). Go past bush on left, cabbage trees on right. Drive down the bank through two gates and veer right onto the track that climbs up the hill. (If wet you may like to leave your car at the bottom of the hill and walk from there). Park off the track.

Walk past the “balancing egg” (rock formation) through two gates to a magnificent view of the coast. Drop down to the right past the cattle yards, through the gate and follow the track up along the ridge until the grass runs out. There is about 15 minutes of picking your way through windswept scrub to the “Luna Bluffs’. Although there are spectacular views there are definitely no handrails so be very careful of the cliff edge.

After returning to the grass keep a lookout on the seaward side for the track that drops down along the coast. Follow this track all the way back to the cattle yards and back down the hill to your vehicles.

Back to Index

Back to Home Page

Kahurangi Outpost
email: enquiries@kahurangioutpost.co.nz
Phone (03) 5248286
Fax (03) 5248286
webdesign by www.ictdirection.co.nz