The track can be walked from either road end. Walking south from Scotts Road is easiest for the steepest gradient is then downhill. The following track description applies to the walk when undertaken from north to south. From Palmerston North the track can be accessed from Scotts Road leading off Tennant Drive (SH57) 15 km south after crossing the Manawatu River at Palmerston North. Scotts Road is narrow and winds uphill to where the track starts at the entrance to Gordon Kear Forest. There is a carpark on Scotts Road. Vehicles may not be parked on the forest road where there is a locked gate at the track. Any vehicles parked on the forest road risk being towed away or damaged. A stile crosses the fence and an information sign is located just before the bridge over the Kahuterawa Stream.
DOC Boundary 1.5 hours
Tokomaru River 3 hours
Burtton’s Whare site 3.5 hours
Mangahao Rd Carpark 6 hours
The walk commences following the metalled forestry road alongside the Kahuterawa Stream with a mix of mature Pinus radiata and other conifer species alongside the road. It soon leaves the stream and on an easy gradient passes through mature pine forest. After approximately 40 minutes there is an open clearing where the forest roads fork. The trail is clearly marked taking the right road and passing remains of former farm buildings and yards. Several old bridges in the vicinity cross streams but are marked as closed to the public. Continuing through mature forest, the ground vegetation includes regrowth fern and a variety of inedible fungi. An hour from the start, a second locked gate is passed, the track then climbs steadily and the plantation forest gradually changes to regrowth native bush. Following along the forest park boundary, views of Kaihinau, the Tokomaru Gorge and the Manawatu Plain are visible to the West. The gradient increases until the signpost and stile marking entry into Tararua Forest Park are reached. The track then descends from 500 metres a.s.l. down to No 1 Stream at 200 metres above sea level taking about an hour and is clearly marked with DOC orange triangles. Most of the year the creek is low and easily crossed but as with all back country rivers and streams, can be hazardous and requires care during periods of rain and high water. At times the rocks can be slippery. The track crosses the No 1 stream, sidles downstream a short distance and then begins to follow up the Tokomaru River. Remains of an old campsite with rusting iron are passed. After descending to the river and crossing No 2 creek, the track crosses the Tokomaru River, clearly marked with large orange triangles. The river is normally between ankle and knee depth but must be crossed with care. The track continues on the true left bank of the Tokomaru River for 15-20 minutes. The trail here is on private land. Firearms are not permitted and dogs must remain on a leash. This area is marked with orange poles through open clearings and on a fine day provides spectacular views of the virgin native bush on the eastern side. The Tokomaru River is crossed for a second time and re enters the forest park and the start of the original Burtton’s Track. Five minutes further on the former Burtton’s Whare site is reached. Considered as midway when going south it is an ideal site for a lunch break and to absorb something of the history, well described in Ian Argyles book Burtton’s Track. The site of the former swingbridge that crossed to his farm on the western side of the river, that collapsed leading to the death of Jim Burtton in 1941 can be seen. From here the track is the historical trail built by Jim Burtton almost 100 years ago. Mostly benched and of good width through regrowth bush it follows up the Tokomaru River passing some attractive open clearings. Remains of old bridges and other structures can be seen along the way. After another 1½ hours a further stile is crossed as the track passes out of Tararua Forest Park and a cairn commemorating the opening of the trail by the Prime Minister in February 2006 can be seen. The final hour of walk, 3.2 km is along the former Tokomaru Valley Road, now closed to unauthorized traffic but is sometime used by registered 4WD vehicles. The trail ends at the carpark just off the Mangahao Road 7.7kms from the Mangahao Power Station, where walkers can have pre-arranged private transport or a local operator take them past the Mangahao Power Station and the National White Water Slalom Course at Mangaore, 3 km East of Shannon and back to S.H.57. For walkers going from south to north, an extra 1½ hours is recommended due to the uphill climb from the Tokomaru River in the latter part of the walk.