Northland
Kerikeri to Waitangi - OPEN
(North to South)
From the historic Kemp House & Stone Store on Kerikeri Basin, leave Kerikeri Rd & follow the Kororipo Pa Track which curves around the headland to the SE. Once on the headland, follow the wide pasture track SW until a DOC marker post identifies a track heading SE down into a gully and over a pedestrian bridge to Pa Rd. Walk SE up Pa Rd & turn NE into Kerikeri Inlet Rd. Continue on for 2km to a forest gate & the northern end of Te Wairoa Rd - the start of the Waitangi Forest Track. This route is a mix of footpath, grass, easy walking track & road berm.
Waitangi Forest Track - 14.5km / 3hr
As it leaves Kerikeri Inlet Road the trail ascends gradually through young pines for 2.6km to a road junction. At this junction head W, leaving Te Wairoa Rd and onto Skyline Rd.
Skyline Rd twists and turns for 8.7km through the forest - keep a close eye on navigation, or use a GPS - to connect to Te Puke Rd.
The Waitangi Forest is a commercial forest, and forestry operations, including logging and log truck transport, are present in the forest most months of the year. The Skyline Road avoids the areas currently scheduled for logging – it is important to stick to this route. Heed all the signs and do not enter into areas that are marked as closed. If you encounter a road closed sign or banner across the road, it means you have left the designated walkway and are on the wrong route – retrace your steps until you are back on the Skyline road.
At this point, anyone with an interest in Te Araroa history may want to make a quick detour by turning NW up Te Puke Rd and a short way up you can see a plaque and the Te Araroa cairn, assembled from local volcanic rock by Kerikeri sculptor Chris Booth and restored in 2014, which marks the opening of this route - the very first Te Araroa track!
Turn SE onto Te Puke Rd and continue on 1km to pass Mt Bledisloe (105m) before turning East onto Haruru Falls Rd, leaving the forest behind you emerge onto Tau Henare Drive, Waitangi. Follow the road through the Waitangi Golf Course past the Waitangi Treaty grounds and continue down to the Waitangi Bridge.
- Vehicles on road or track
- Forestry operations
- Bikes and horses
(North to South)
From the historic Kemp House & Stone Store on Kerikeri Basin, leave Kerikeri Rd & follow the Kororipo Pa Track which curves around the headland to the SE. Once on the headland, follow the wide pasture track SW until a DOC marker post identifies a track heading SE down into a gully and over a pedestrian bridge to Pa Rd. Walk SE up Pa Rd & turn NE into Kerikeri Inlet Rd. Continue on for 2km to a forest gate & the northern end of Te Wairoa Rd - the start of the Waitangi Forest Track. This route is a mix of footpath, grass, easy walking track & road berm.
Waitangi Forest Track - 14.5km / 3hr
As it leaves Kerikeri Inlet Road the trail ascends gradually through young pines for 2.6km to a road junction. At this junction head W, leaving Te Wairoa Rd and onto Skyline Rd.
Skyline Rd twists and turns for 8.7km through the forest - keep a close eye on navigation, or use a GPS - to connect to Te Puke Rd.
The Waitangi Forest is a commercial forest, and forestry operations, including logging and log truck transport, are present in the forest most months of the year. The Skyline Road avoids the areas currently scheduled for logging – it is important to stick to this route. Heed all the signs and do not enter into areas that are marked as closed. If you encounter a road closed sign or banner across the road, it means you have left the designated walkway and are on the wrong route – retrace your steps until you are back on the Skyline road.
At this point, anyone with an interest in Te Araroa history may want to make a quick detour by turning NW up Te Puke Rd and a short way up you can see a plaque and the Te Araroa cairn, assembled from local volcanic rock by Kerikeri sculptor Chris Booth and restored in 2014, which marks the opening of this route - the very first Te Araroa track!
Turn SE onto Te Puke Rd and continue on 1km to pass Mt Bledisloe (105m) before turning East onto Haruru Falls Rd, leaving the forest behind you emerge onto Tau Henare Drive, Waitangi. Follow the road through the Waitangi Golf Course past the Waitangi Treaty grounds and continue down to the Waitangi Bridge.
Kerikeri
Derek - spikebowler@hotmail.com 0212 544 919 or 09 402 7717
Original Te Araroa brochure available from www.teararoa.org.nz/userfiles/file/brochure/waitangi3.pdf
South of here, the trail follows the same route as the path that once connected the now-vanished Maori village Okura with Waitangi. It passes Mt Bledisloe (105m) and a short diversion to the summit lookout is worthwhile. The large swathe of land on view from this low summit, includes the Waitangi Treaty Grounds below. The track descends past Mt Bledisoe before turning east (left) onto Haruru Falls Rd then Tau Henare Drive and past the Waitangi Golf Course, to the Waitangi Treaty Grounds.
Daily guided tours and Maori Cultural performances are available.
On February 6th 1840, New Zealand’s founding document was signed here between Lieutenant-Governor Hobson, representing of the British Crown and Maori chiefs. The manicured lawns and the solemn kaitiakitanga that surround the place indicate the importance now placed on the treaty. The Treaty Grounds (including the colonial Treaty House) and 1000 acres of land were gifted to the nation in 1932 by the former Governor General, Lord Charles Bledisloe. As a British aristocrat, he perhaps saw more clearly than Pakeha New Zealanders then did what the Treaty of Waitangi meant to Maori, and the nation. Te Whare Runanga (carved meeting house) was opened on the 6 February 1940, 100 years after the signing. It stands facing the Treaty House, the two buildings together symbolising the partnership agreed between Maori and the British Crown, on which today’s Aotearoa New Zealand is founded.
Whare Waka Café is located within the Treaty Grounds. Hangi & Concert evenings are scheduled from 1 December to the end of March on Tuesday and Thursday evening.
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There are many side roads in this forest so take care you are on the correct road.
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The track passes through the Waitangi Endowment Forest - part of New Zealand’s conservation estate, a further gift to the nation by Lord Bledisloe, in 1936.
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The Waitangi Treaty Grounds, are open daily from 9am - 6pm (January and February) and 9am - 5pm during the rest of the year. Daily guided tours and Maori cultural performances are available.
Derek - spikebowler@hotmail.com 0212 544 919 or 09 402 7717
- Keep to the track
- Leave gates as you find them
- No dogs
- No vehicles
- Take all rubbish with you
- Kiwis - no dogs allowed
(Start)
- Full range of amenities in Kerikeri
(End)
- Carpark
- Picnic area
- Toilets
- Shop Cafe at Waitangi Visitor Centre
