This walk utilises footpaths, back road & SH road margins, pasture & river esplanade. Potential hazards: Vehicles; farming operations - please give way to farm animals; River crossings - NO access along Waipa River Banks if in flood. Respect private land; NO dogs.

From the Taitua Arbortum, head W on Taitua Rd, turn left/south onto Howden Road and continue straight ahead when it runs into O'Dea Rd. At the end of O'Dea Rd, continue over the stile - up the steps and onto the track some 2km to Walsh Rd. Turn right/north onto Walsh Rd and follow Walsh Rd (including a 90degree turn to the left) out to SH39, turning right/north onto SH39 and walking 1.5km to Whatawhata village, where a perol station and tavern have refreshments for weary walkers.

Walk west on SH23 through the settlement of Whatawhata, over the Waipa River bridge and take the first left (S) into Te Pahu Rd. Here you will leave the road to walk on the true left bank of the Waipa River for a way.

Look for a track behind the church, on the river side of the fence, and follow the orange markers. The track runs through pasture and swamp to a footbridge and in places, goes along a farm race - please, always give way to cattle!

At one point, the track heads back onto Te Pahu Rd and across a road bridge (Paratawa Stream) before orange markers lead back onto the river reserve. Then it's back onto Te Pahu Rd to the junction with Old Mountain Rd.

Walk 4.5km SW on Old Mountain Rd (well past the quarry) to the start of the Kapamahunga Walkway.

Kapamahunga Walkway - 10.5km / 3-4hr

** Note - this route closes 1 August to 10 November for lambing, please walk 7km south on Te Pahu Rd, then a further 5km west on Limeworks Loop Rd to re-connect to the route

From Old Mountain Road, follow the white and/or orange markers southwards over farmland in the Kapamahunga Range. Note the entry point off Old Mountain Rd is a little obscure.

After 3.5km, you pass a rural airstrip to the west and the end of Waikoha Road to the east. Keep following the markers south for another 3km. As you come downhill to the river, continue further along the NW side of the river, skirting behind the limeworks, before coming out at the junction of Fillery Rd and Limeworks Loop Rd.

Follow the road SW until reaching the DOC picnic area by the Kaniwhaniwha Stream.

Please note: to access Karamu Walkway from the Karamu end, turn off Limeworks Loop Rd on to Fillery Rd, cross the one-lane bridge then follow the signs along a farm track to the carpark.

• Vehicles on road or track
• Farming operations - please give way on all farm races.
• River crossings - Never cross flooded rivers - No access along Waipa River banks if in flood.
• Open drains
• Few water sources

This walk utilises footpaths, back road & SH road margins, pasture & river esplanade. Potential hazards: Vehicles; farming operations - please give way to farm animals; River crossings - NO access along Waipa River Banks if in flood. Respect private land; NO dogs.

From the Taitua Arbortum, head W on Taitua Rd, turn left/south onto Howden Road and continue straight ahead when it runs into O'Dea Rd. At the end of O'Dea Rd, continue over the stile - up the steps and onto the track some 2km to Walsh Rd. Turn right/north onto Walsh Rd and follow Walsh Rd (including a 90degree turn to the left) out to SH39, turning right/north onto SH39 and walking 1.5km to Whatawhata village, where a perol station and tavern have refreshments for weary walkers.

Walk west on SH23 through the settlement of Whatawhata, over the Waipa River bridge and take the first left (S) into Te Pahu Rd. Here you will leave the road to walk on the true left bank of the Waipa River for a way.

Look for a track behind the church, on the river side of the fence, and follow the orange markers. The track runs through pasture and swamp to a footbridge and in places, goes along a farm race - please, always give way to cattle!

At one point, the track heads back onto Te Pahu Rd and across a road bridge (Paratawa Stream) before orange markers lead back onto the river reserve. Then it's back onto Te Pahu Rd to the junction with Old Mountain Rd.

Walk 4.5km SW on Old Mountain Rd (well past the quarry) to the start of the Kapamahunga Walkway.

Kapamahunga Walkway - 10.5km / 3-4hr

** Note - this route closes 1 August to 10 November for lambing, please walk 7km south on Te Pahu Rd, then a further 5km west on Limeworks Loop Rd to re-connect to the route

From Old Mountain Road, follow the white and/or orange markers southwards over farmland in the Kapamahunga Range. Note the entry point off Old Mountain Rd is a little obscure.

After 3.5km, you pass a rural airstrip to the west and the end of Waikoha Road to the east. Keep following the markers south for another 3km. As you come downhill to the river, continue further along the NW side of the river, skirting behind the limeworks, before coming out at the junction of Fillery Rd and Limeworks Loop Rd.

Follow the road SW until reaching the DOC picnic area by the Kaniwhaniwha Stream.

Please note: to access Karamu Walkway from the Karamu end, turn off Limeworks Loop Rd on to Fillery Rd, cross the one-lane bridge then follow the signs along a farm track to the carpark.

  Download Map 1 (map037)

  Download Trail Notes (Waipa Walk)