Renfrew Road end to Table Flat Road end: Walking Guide, Time & Access

Route overview

Climb up and over the tussock tops of the Whanahuia Range in Ruahine Forest Park then drop down to follow the Oroua River valley.

This DOC directory entry covers Renfrew Road end to Table Flat Road end in Manawatu-Whanganui, within Ruahine 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: 2-3 days
• 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

Renfrew Road end to Rangiwahia Hut or Triangle Hut

Time: 2-3 hr or 6-8 hr

Have an easy short day to Rangiwahia Hut (2 - 3 hr) following the well formed Rangiwahia Hut Track or alternatively get an early start and have a long day hiking up past Rangiwahia Hut, over the Whanahuia Range and down to Triangle Hut (6 - 8 hr) in the Oroua River. From Rangiwahia Hut head to the top of the Whanahuia Range, then head north for about 40 minutes to where the Triangle Hut track turns off and descends steeply down the eastern side of the range. Due to travel on the open tops this section should not be attempted in poor visibility or bad weather.

Rangiwahia Hut or Triangle Hut to Iron Gate Hut

Time: 2-3 hr or 6-8 hr

Depending on where you end up the first night you either have a short day of river and track travel from Triangle Hut to Iron Gate Hut (2 - 3 hr) or a longer day from Rangiwahia Hut to Iron Gate Hut (6 - 8 hr). The first half of the route from Triangle Hut is down the Oroua River and should not be attempted when river levels are high following heavy rain. A track up and over a ridge eliminates some river travel before descending once again to the river a short distance before Iron Gate Hut which is on the true left.

Day 3: Iron Gate Hut to Table Flat Road end

Time: 4-5 hr

Walk the Iron Gate Hut Track out to Alice Nash Memorial Heritage Lodge (3 - 4 hr) and on to the Oroua carpark at the end of Table Flat Road.

Getting there

Renfrew Road end

Travel past the villages of Kimbolton and Rangiwahia and continue along Te Para Para Rd and on to Renfrew Road. Follow this to the carpark at the end.

Table Flat Road end

Just past the village of Kimbolton turn right onto Apiti Road which then becomes Oroua Valley Road. Go through Apiti and take the second turn right onto Table Flat Road and continue for several kms. Turn left onto Petersons Road. Take this road to the carpark on farmland at the end of the road.

You will need to make transport arrangements as the end and start points of this hike are different.

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.