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Key facts
- Distance
- 2.5 km loop
- Walking time
- 1 hr loop
- Track grade
- Easy to intermediate walking track
Checked against official sources on 1 October 2026. Rules and conditions are set by Department of Conservation — confirm with them before you go.
A forest loop from Holdsworth road end via Donnelly Flat, with a streamside picnic option and a current Tararua predator-control caution to check.
Choose the low forest loop
Begin at the end of Mount Holdsworth Road and cross the Atiwhakatu footbridge. This outing follows the relatively flat approach to Donnelly Flat rather than climbing towards a mountain hut. Save the loop description before departure so the return junction is familiar. The short published time covers walking, not a long picnic, and the official grade still spans easy to intermediate. Allow the group time to settle into a comfortable pace before deciding on extra stops.
Return at the track junction
Donnelly Flat provides a place to pause beside the forest and stream. Continuing to the Atiwhakatu Track junction completes the described loop back towards Holdsworth car park via the foot of Gentle Annie Track. Keep those names clear: following a hut-bound track would change the outing. Enjoy the tall mixed forest from the marked path, with children close when stopping near water. A stream visit is optional and should not become an unplanned crossing.
Read the predator-control warning
The route page's usual dog permission must be read alongside the current Tararua baiting notice. DOC advises against taking dogs into the affected area during the caution period; verify the operational boundary and current signs rather than relying on a generic dog icon. Mountain biking is not allowed on this loop. Bring water, snacks and a weatherproof layer, check the latest notices before travel, and keep any longer Holdsworth tramp as a separately prepared trip.
Read the official track description and notices immediately before travelling. The source-check date is not a live access or safety report.
More photographs
Illustrative photograph. A backpack carried outdoors; location unverified. This is not a retailer or current-stock photograph. Not a verified photograph of the place or itinerary in this guide.
Photo: Cody Black / Unsplash License / Details
