WHAITAHINGA TRAILS ARE NOW OPEN

Waitahinga Trails are located 12 km past Bushy Park, inland from Kai Iwi on land owned by the Whanganui Council. Over 2012 and 2013, the Wanganui Tramping Club cut and marked a number of trails catering for various fitness levels. These trails pass through bush with a large diversity of species and some impressively big rimu and rata trees, including the "hug tree" and the "nail tree". The trails are a testament to the vision and hard work of club members, with special thanks to Audrey Thompson and Basil Hooper.

NOTES:

1) The trails are closed every Tuesday for pest control. Quarry operations start 2021.

2) The trails are closed in JULY and AUGUST by insistence of the Whanganui District Council.

3) Note for dog owners: Trampers must have their dogs on leashes and must remain on the tracks as posted.

4) There is to be no off trail tramps or plans to explore further unless prior arrangement is made with Ian Moore,
Forest and Quarry Manager.  Phone 027 445 3267.

Directions:
Take Rangitatau Road at Kai Iwi (pass Bushy Park) and follow it until Junction Road goes off to the left. Take Junction Road for maybe a kilometre and park at the well-signed Quarry Carpark. There is a good view from this road, but even better views from the Mt Taranaki and Mt Ruapehu lookouts on the "Chicken Run" trail.

There is a large sign with a map showing all the trails 300 metres up the Quarry Road from the carpark.

Although uphill from the car park, the "Chicken Run" loop trail is an easy walk and the views from the lookouts make it well worth the effort. On route is a clearing which is ideal for picnics or lunch.

The Okehu ridge walk has two loop tracks; one to Croppers Clearing and return, and a longer four hour loop down to the Waitahinga Dam (once the source of Whanganui's water) via Tom and Harry's Ridges. The dam is 250 metres lower in altitude than the start of the Okehu track so the return walk involves uphill walking.

For an ideal day walk, take the Okehu ridge trail that leaves from the big signpost. Have a snack at Croppers Clearing then take Tom's track down to the Waitahinga Dam. Have lunch here, then head back along Harry's track until you reach the Okehu ridge track again. You can choose to follow this all the way back to the car park, or partway along it, take the Pines' trail. This takes you to the Quarry Road and past the entrance to the Chicken Run trail as you return to the car park.