Near the end of Dragway Road, an ignimbrite rock marker marks the trail head, engraved with a Waikato River verse from a Topp Twins song. Signage indicates walkers are under the protection of the Ngati Naho taniwha.

The first 9.5 kilometres from Dragway Rd to the Te Kauwhata Pumphouse is the most scenic part of the track. It follows farm tracks and the stopbank for three kilometres before ascending hilly terrain to a height of 35 metres, with good river views, before descending again to the flats. Kahikatea, cabbage trees and puketea alongside the trail give a hint of the original riverside vegetation.

Soon after, the track passes on to another farm frontage, climbing to another river viewpoint before crossing a swamp on a 30 metre boardwalk and exiting just North of the Pumphouse. (The Pumphouse is accessible by Hall Road, if you want to arrange a pickup by car here).

The track continues along the stopbank parallel to Churchill East Road for most of the remaining 8.5 kilometres to Rangiriri. (The un-busy road is an option if you don’t like moving past occasional cattle).

Two kilometres south of the Pumphouse, watch for Tarahanga, an island that was used in former times as a Maori sentry post to detect invaders on the river. High priests here once uttered powerful incantations and sounded alarms through a rock structure known as Te Pahuu o Ngati Pou, warning of any impending danger.

Three kilometres along this route, the track diverts on to the road for nearly 2 kms, then returns to the stopbank again for the final 2 kms. This last section sometimes grazes young bulls so, if you'd prefer, the road is again an option.

The trail ends near an old redoubt where, in 1863, British troops fought Waikato warriors in a bloody encounter. The nearby Rangiriri Battle Site Heritage Centre displays military relics and an audio-visual of the battle.