Lawrence Road tramping tracks: Walking Guide, Time & Access

Route overview

From Lawrence Road take a 2-3 hour walk through Blowhard Bush or to Lotkow Road. From their follow the Lotkow Track for another 2-3 hours to Lookout and Donald River.

This DOC directory entry covers Lawrence Road tramping tracks in Hawke's Bay, within Kaweka 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: Not specified in the checked DOC directory
• DOC grade: Advanced

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.

Dog access

Dogs with a DOC permit for recreational hunting or management purposes only. Other pets on conservation land rules.

Description

From the Lawrence Road end there are a variety of options, for day or overnight trips. Some are round trips and some link with other road ends or access points to the park.

Note following Cyclone Gabrielle the access road may be subjected to ongoing slips and the road end has changed resulting in less parking space.

Lawrence Road to Lotkow Road

Time: 2 - 3 hr

A river crossing is required for the Lawrence Road to Lotkow Road end, as the swingbridge has been removed.

Check weather forecasts and if in doubt do not attempt to cross the river. Be prepared to return or wait until the river level is suitable for crossing.

For day visitors there are two interesting options from here. Cross the river and follow the track, which sidles steeply at first, then gently uphill through kanuka forest.

After about 45 minutes the Mackintosh Track turns off to the left and 5 minutes along this track is an open, rocky knoll, an excellent vantage point with views across the Mackintosh Plateau and up the Donald River to the peaks of the main Kaweka Range.

For an alternative route back from Lotkow Road to the Lawrence Shelter, follow the Mackintosh Track, which drops steeply off the ridge for 10 minutes and then descends steadily to the Donald River for 20 minutes.

Follow the Donald River downstream for an hour, to where it joins the Tutaekuri River, about 5 minutes upriver from the Lawrence swingbridge. The walk along the Donald River is unmarked, but access along manuka terraces is not difficult.

Lawrence Road loop via Lotkow Track, Lookout and Donald River

Time: 2 - 3 hr

Blowhard Bush

Blowhard Bush Reserve is located on the corner of Lawrence Road and the Napier-Taihape Road. It's owned by Forest & Bird and contains four walking tracks. See information on Forest & Bird website.

Getting there

Lawrence Road is approximately 70 km from Napier and can be accessed off the Napier/Taihape Road which dissects the southern section of the park.

A forestry gate has been installed on Lawrence Road to allow for closure in the event of unsafe road conditions. If the road is closed, an alert will be displayed on this page.

Kaweka Forest Park access conditions

We recommend 4WD vehicles to reduce wear on the road and safe travel.

• Lotkow Road: The river crossings are regularly changing, check before crossing.

• Lakes carpark is accessible via Kuripapango road. The previous access Castle Rock road is now closed due to ongoing forestry operations.

• Lawrence Carpark access road: The last 600 m of the road is steep and not recommended for 2WD vehicles - a parking space is available before the descent. The Lawrence swing bridge has been removed.

• Mackintosh car park is currently closed due to ongoing forestry operations. A new parking location can be located at a skid site near the closed gate (end of Kuripapango Road), this will add on 500 m walking to reach the start of the track.

• Whittle Road: Be aware of trucks using the quarry. Give them right of way where possible.

Nature and conservation

Altitude in the area ranges from about 800 to 1200 metres and the area is exposed apart from the steep river gorges. Two major rivers, Tutaekuri and Ngaruroro emerge from the ranges along the Napier/Taihape Road.

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.