Port FitzRoy: Kaiaraara Hut side tracks: Walking Guide, Time & Access

Route overview

These tracks all start from Kaiaraara Hut, a short distance from the end of Kaiaraara Bay Road, near Port FitzRoy.

This DOC directory entry covers Port FitzRoy: Kaiaraara Hut side tracks in Auckland, within Great Barrier Island/Aotea. 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: Various: 35 min - 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.

• Kaiaraara Track closure; First published on 20 March 2023. Last reviewed on 28 March 2026.

Dog access

No dogs. Other pets on conservation land rules.

Description

Bush's Beach Track

Time: 35 min one way

Beginning at Kaiaraara Hut, this track is part of the old riding track from Port FitzRoy to the Wairahi Valley. The boardwalk was built to protect kauri from kauri dieback disease.

Kiwiriki Track

Time: 4 hr one way

This track continues on from Bush's Beach Track.

It follows the same original riding track to a junction with Line W Track (35 minutes), then descends and crosses Coffin's Creek travelling through lowland forest remnants of pūriri, nīkau, kohekohe and concentrations of kōwhai and pōhutukawa on the coast.

The track climbs steadily and follows the dividing ridge before veering right and dropping steeply to the valley floor and sign-posted junction (1 hour 30 minutes), leading to a 15-minute walk to the head of Kiwiriki Bay.

The main track crosses Kiwiriki Stream and climbs through the valley and central ridge to meet Forest Road at Maungapiko (1 hour 30 minutes).

Line W Track

Time: 1 hr one way

This track branches off Kiwiriki Track to join directly with Forest Road, enabling a much shorter round trip from, and back to, the Kaiaraara Hut, without having to go to Maungapiko.

South Fork Track

Time: 3 hr one way

Beginning 1 km south of Kaiaraara Hut, South Fork Track follows an old bridle track to Mt Heale Hut and Mt Heale. It crosses the stream twice then climbs steadily to a swing bridge on the way to the central ridge. It travels through regenerating forest with excellent examples of tutu.

Warning: There is approx. 500 m at the first stream crossing at the Forest Road end of the track where you need to follow the orange marker posts up to the central ridge, climbing out of the stream.

This track crosses streams that can become dangerous after rain. Do not attempt to cross streams after heavy rain.

Getting there

From Port FitzRoy, follow Kaiaraara Bay Road to its end. A short walk leads to Kaiaraara Hut and the start of these 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.