Main Ridge Track: Walking Guide, Time & Access

Route overview

Tangihua Main Ridge is a rough track, which follows the main ridge through thick vegetation. The views from the track are very rewarding on a clear day.

This DOC directory entry covers Main Ridge Track in Northland, within Tangihua Forest. 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: 2 - 3 hr one way
• 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

The Tangihua Main Ridge Track forms a link between the Horokaka Track and the Te Haua Uru Track, a loop that takes about 9 hours to complete, ending at the Tangihua Lions Lodge.

Alternatively, having completed the Tangihua Main Ridge Track, trampers can continue northwards on the Northern Tangihua Track which leads to the Tangihua Hut, a further 2-3 hours tramp from the Main Ridge Route – Te Haua Uru intersection.

Although the distance from Horokaka to the end of the Tangihua Main Ridge Track is not great, the track is very undulating and travel is quite slow.

Getting there

The Tangihua Main Ridge Track is located in the Tangihua Forest which is found halfway between Whangarei on Northland’s east coast and Dargaville on the west coast. Your best access into Tangihua Forest is from Omana Road.

The Omana Road Tangihua access car park has parking for 15 cars. You will need to walk 30 minutes along a formed road to the bush line. From here, it is another 15 minutes until you reach Tangihua Lions Lodge, a good orientation point for tracks and walks in the forest.

Know before you go

• The Horokaka, Tangihua Main Ridge Track and Te Haua Uru Track loop route should only be tackled by experienced trampers.

• There are razor back ridges and lack of hand holds.

• Trampers should have a high degree of skill and experience, route-finding ability, be well equipped and use topographical maps.

• There is no water source in the forest. You must carry your own water.

• Watch where you are going at all times. There are steep drops in places.

• The ridge is exposed to rough weather. Make sure you are well equipped and have appropriate warm and waterproof tramping gear.

• Strenuous climbing required in places.

• Stay on the marked tracks.

• There may be wasps and wasp nests in the area.

History and culture

The Whangarei Tramping Club reopened and cut the Tangihua Main Ridge Track in 1991.

The tramping tracks and routes within Tangihua Forest pass by sites of cultural and spiritual significance to the Parawhau Ngapuhi people. For this reason we ask that trampers stay on the marked tracks.

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.