McKerrow Track: Walking Guide, Time & Access

Route overview

Get panoramic views of Wainuiomata and the Hutt Valley as you climb to the top of Mt McKerrow.

This DOC directory entry covers McKerrow Track in Wellington, within Catchpool Valley & Ōrongorongo Valley / Remutaka 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 hr return
• 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.

• Ungulate control for parts of Remutaka Forest Park; First published on 22 January 2026. Last reviewed on 4 August 2026.

Seasonal restrictions

The gate to Catchpool valley is open: 6 am – 8 pm from 28 September until 7 April 6 am – 6 pm from 8 April until 27 September

Dog access

Dogs on a leash only. Other pets on conservation land rules.

Description

Mt McKerrow (706 m), in the Remutaka Forest Park, is not your typical maunga (mountain). You know you've scaled its peak when the uphill slog along a ridge in the Ōrongorongo Valley becomes a descent. Trees obscure the views at the top, but there are panoramic peeks of Wainuiomata and the Hutt Valley at vantage points en route.

You can start the trip to Mt McKerrow from Wainuiomata or the Catchpool Valley in the Remutaka Forest Park. From Hine Road and the end of Sunny Grove in Wainuiomata you can reach the Whakanui Track. At the top of the hill turn right at the signpost to follow the ridge south along the eastern side of the Wainuiomata Valley until you reach the top.

Just below the summit the track splits and you can go right to follow the Clay Ridge and Five Mile Loop tracks down to the Catchpool car park. This trip takes around six hours to complete. Or you can turn left and descend, coming out on the Orongorongo Valley Track to the car park. This option will add about an hour to your tramp.

Getting there

Hine Road, which leads to the track from Wainuiomata, is the last road on the left as you head out of Wainuiomata towards the coast. Catchpool Valley, the other entry point, is 10 km down the coast road behind Wainuiomata.

Know before you go

Remember that mountain weather can quickly change so make sure you're equipped with warm clothes, food and water and stout footwear.

Nature and conservation

From the Catchpool car park end of the track you'll venture through regenerating podocarp hardwood scrub before encountering gnarly old podocarp hardwood and black and hard beech trees.

You pass through an area of windthrow – from where you get spectacular views of Wellington on a fine day – before reaching the summit and its cloak of silver beech.

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.