Skip to content
All walking tracks

Gisborne · Hiking

Manganuku Track: Walking Guide, Time & Access

A walker seen from behind carrying a grey and orange backpack, with hills in the background.

Illustrative photograph. General backpacking illustration; location unverified. This is not a photograph of the named route or evidence of its terrain, condition or difficulty.

Photo: Cody Black / Unsplash License / Details

This track follows the Manganuku Stream to the Manganuku Hut.

Last checked 8 October 2026 · Department of Conservation

By Outdoor Next Editorial standards

On this page

Location & access

DOC track reference point, not a verified trailhead, entrance or the whole route. Check the official route directions before travel.

Official location information
Location source

DOC track reference point, not a verified trailhead, entrance or the whole route.

Reference point: -38.27818, 177.40787. WGS84 coordinates retained at the official service's returned precision; decimal resolution is not survey accuracy. Source positional accuracy is not specified.

DOC Maps walking and tramping reference point (WGS84), exact official-page GUID / Department of Conservation. Checked 2026-10-12.

Key facts

Distance
Not confirmed on the checked DOC page; see individual route sections
Walking time
3-4 hr one way
Track grade
Advanced
Location
Ōpōtiki area / Waioweka Gorge Scenic Reserve
Dog access
Dogs with a DOC permit for recreational hunting or management purposes only. 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

This track follows the Manganuku Stream to the Manganuku Hut.

This DOC directory entry covers Manganuku Track in Gisborne, within Ōpōtiki area / Waioweka Gorge Scenic Reserve. 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: 3-4 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

From the Historic Howe Truss Bridge take the gentle benched track that runs beside the true right of the Manganuku Stream.

After about an hour you will get to a directional sign, from here head down to the river to a good swimming hole in the Manganuku Stream.

From here you can continue walking upstream in the river for 2 hours approx and you will arrive at the Manganuku Hut. The river exit to the hut is marked with a large orange track marker. There are some deep stream crossings if river levels are high so check before you leave.

Getting there

The track starts beside the Manganuku Campsite, located 47 km from Opotiki, adjacent to SH2 and the Manganuku Bridge.

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.

Sources & official links

  1. 1.Manganuku Track: official route information— Department of Conservation
  2. 2.DOC walking and tramping directory— Department of Conservation

Keep planning

Related pages