Opouahi Walkway: Walking Guide, Time & Access

Route overview

Walk around an idyllic lake. Opouahi Scenic Reserve is home to the Opouahi Kiwi Créche.

This DOC directory entry covers Opouahi Walkway in Hawke's Bay, within Boundary Stream area. Where DOC groups several walks, times and grades refer to the listed options rather than a single continuous itinerary.

Distance, time and grade

• Distance: 1.4 km loop
• Walking time: 40 min
• DOC grade: Easy

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

No dogs. Other pets on conservation land rules.

Description

This track lies behind the Opouahi Kiwi Crèche's 3.3 km predator-proof fence.

Picnic under the shelter, admire the carvings on the whare waka (canoe shelter), walk around the lake or spend some time swimming, fishing or kayaking.

Parts of this track are narrow, slippery and overgrown. In some places, slipping could result in a fall into the lake. Take extra care, supervise children, and turn back if you do not feel confident continuing.

Do not walk this track during very heavy rain, as there is an increased risk of landslides.

Thomas Bush Track starts from a junction halfway round Opouahi Walkway. The track ends at the top Opouahi exit gate. The track within Thomas bush is no longer maintained.

Getting there

Opouahi Scenic Reserve is located on Pohokura Road between Tūtira and Boundary Stream.

Due to road repairs the travel time to site from Napier can range from 1 hr to 1 hr 30 min. The last 5 minutes of travel will be on a gravel road.

The final section of the drive is on an unsealed road. It is narrow, winding and steep in places. Stay left, keep headlights on, and drive to the conditions.

Know before you go

Water safety

If you plan to enjoy the water, learn how to stay safe when swimming, boating and fishing.

Caves and holes

This is a limestone area and there are caves, shafts and sinkholes off the track. They are unmarked and may be unstable.

If you discover an unmarked cave, shaft or sinkhole near a track, stay back and report it to DOC.

Wasps and ongaonga

There are wasps and ongaonga (native stinging nettle) in this area. We recommend carrying allergy medication and avoiding touching the ongaonga.

Report wasp nests and any large ongaonga plants to DOC.

Weather

This area can get very hot in summer. It can snow in winter. There can be high wind, rain and cold temperatures at any time of year.

Check the weather forecast before you visit.

Be ready for any weather by packing a waterproof rain jacket, warm layers and sun protection.

Nature and conservation

Opouahi Kiwi Créche

The Opouahi Kiwi Crèche is located in Opouahi Scenic Reserve. The crèche is a safe place where kiwi chicks can grow to a weight that is more likely to survive a stoat attach. If left in the wild, only 5% of kiwi chicks survive to adulthood, largely due to predation. Kiwi raised at the crèche are released into the Kaweka Forest Park in an effort to boost the numbers of North Island brown kiwi living in the wild.

Visit Save our Kaweka Kiwi to learn more about the kiwi recovery efforts.

Behind the 3.3 km predator-proof fence lies an idyllic lake surrounded by bush and bird song. Kererū, tūī, fernbird, fantails, dabchicks and pāteke are some of the highlights, often easily seen. Starlings have discovered the safety of the site and often flock to the site in the evenings, you may encounter aromatic areas which indicate where they are currently roosting.

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 published in DOC's official route gallery with an explicit reuse licence. Its original caption and credit are retained; it does not establish current track conditions.