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Key facts
- Distance
- Not confirmed on the checked DOC page; see individual route sections
- Walking time
- 5 - 7 hr 30 min
- Track grade
- Advanced
- Location
- Lake Waikaremoana area / Te Urewera
- Dog access
- No dogs. 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
Walk along the Ngamoko Track as it steadily climbs to the Ngāmoko Range summit. You will be rewarded for your hard work by the views at the summit.
This DOC directory entry covers Ngamoko Track in Gisborne, within Lake Waikaremoana area / Te Urewera. 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: 5 - 7 hr 30 min
- 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.
- Te Urewera alerts; First published on 17 October 2022. Last reviewed on 6 June 2026.
Dog access
No dogs. Other pets on conservation land rules.
Description
Ngamoko Track
Time: 2 hr 30 min to Ngamoko summit
The Ngamoko Track climbs to the Ngāmoko Range summit, steeply at times, through dense forest. At lower altitudes the variety of forest trees is superb: light green tawa, red and silver beech trees, tall rimu with draping golden green leaves, and the mighty northern rata.
Higher up, above a row of sandstone bluffs, cooler temperatures and strong winds means the forest is dominated by the hardy silver beech. At the summit itself (1099 metres) gaps in the vegetation give glorious views of the length of Lake Waikaremoana in one direction, and green farmland ridges stretching away towards Gisborne and Wairoa in the other.
A short detour at the beginning of the Ngamoko Track takes you to one of the biggest rata trees in the country. It is around 1,000 years since it began life as a germinating seed high in the forks of a tree that itself was probably 400-500 years old.
Return via the same track or continue to Lake Kaitawa.
Lake Kaitawa via Ngamoko Track
Time: 5 hr from Ngamoko summit.
This is an extension of the tramp above extending your tramp to a full 8 hour day. It's a one way tramp - you'll need to arrange your own transport from Kaitawa at the end of the tramp.
Near Ngamoko summit a turn off to the right indicates the start of a long ridge which descends gradually through forest to Lake Kaitawa. There are good views in places.
Getting there
The track access point is located 2.4 km along the road from the Visitor Centre heading towards Wairoa. A sign indicates Whaitiri Point and opposite it is the starting point for the track.
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.
