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Key facts
- Distance
- Not confirmed on the checked DOC page; see individual route sections
- Walking time
- 6–7 hr return
- Track grade
- Intermediate
- Location
- Ōtaki Forks area / Tararua Forest Park
- Dog access
- Dogs allowed. Keep dog under control at all times. Other pets on conservation land rules.
Checked against official sources on 8 October 2026. Rules and conditions are set by Department of Conservation — confirm with them before you go.
Route overview
The day trip to Table Top is the classic climb to the tops of the western Tararua Range.
This DOC directory entry covers Field Hut and Table Top in Wellington, within Ōtaki Forks area / Tararua Forest Park. Where DOC groups several walks, times and grades refer to the listed options rather than a single continuous itinerary.
Distance, time and grade
- Distance: Not confirmed on the checked DOC page; see individual route sections
- Walking time: 6–7 hr return
- DOC grade: Intermediate
Access and alerts
Source checked 2026-10-08. This page is a dated snapshot, not a live track-status report. Check current DOC route information immediately before travelling. An absence of listed alerts does not establish that a route is open.
Predator control for part of Tararua Forest Park; First published on 2 May 2026. Last reviewed on 3 June 2026.
Predator control for Southern Tararuas; First published on 3 March 2026. Last reviewed on 21 May 2026.
Dog access
Dogs allowed. Keep dog under control at all times. Other pets on conservation land rules.
Description
The day trip to Table Top is the classic climb to the tops of the western Tararua Range. It is also the entry/exit to the Southern Crossing, the classic tramp in the Tararuas.
From the Ōtaki Forks car park, Field Track crosses the Waiotauru footbridge and climbs steadily through rather sombre kamahi and beech forest for 3–4 hr to the historic Field Hut at 900 m, not far below the bushline.
Above the hut, the track climbs through a good example of leatherwood shrubland, to emerge on the tussocklands beyond Table Top (1047 m). A boardwalk and metalled track extend across several hundred metres of vulnerable subalpine bogs. The peaks of the Main Range and the gorges of the Ōtaki River sweep in an arc from east to north.
The trip back from Field Hut to Ōtaki Forks is 3 hr, and the return trip can be completed in 6–7 hr.
Getting there
Ōtaki Forks is 19 km inland from Ōtaki township – approximately 1 hr 30 min drive from Wellington or Palmerston North. The easiest turnoff from SH1 is at Ōtaki Gorge Road, just south of the SH1 bridge over the Ōtaki River.
Know before you go
The Southern Crossing is often plagued by bad weather and is especially exposed to cold southerlies, the cause of several fatalities over the years.
Sources and reuse
Route descriptions and practical information reproduced from the Department of Conservation, Crown copyright, under CC BY 4.0, subject to DOC's copyright policy. Formatting has been adapted, including flattening page sections; follow the original DOC page for maps, section-specific layout, current notices and linked documents. Outdoor Next is independent and is not endorsed by DOC.
The accompanying photograph is a licensed general hiking illustration, not a photograph of this route.
