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Wellington · Hiking

Rocky Lookout: Walking Guide, Time & Access

Track up to Rocky Lookout.

Area context. Track up to Rocky Lookout. Published in DOC's Rocky Lookout guide. Photograph date not supplied; this is route-area context, not a verified trailhead or current-condition photograph.

Photo: Bev Bacon / CC BY 4.0 / Details

Walk up to a viewing platform for extensive views of the surrounding area.

Last checked 8 October 2026 · Department of Conservation

By Outdoor Next Editorial standards

On this page

Key facts

Distance
1.9 km one way
Walking time
1–2 hr one way from Mt Holdsworth road end
Track grade
Easy
Location
Holdsworth area / Tararua Forest Park
Dog access
Dogs allowed. Keep dog under control at all times. 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 up to a viewing platform for extensive views of the surrounding area.

This DOC directory entry covers Rocky Lookout in Wellington, within Holdsworth area / Tararua 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: 1.9 km one way
  • Walking time: 1–2 hr one way from Mt Holdsworth road end
  • 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.

  • Predator control for part of Tararua Forest Park; First published on 2 May 2026. Last reviewed on 3 June 2026.

Dog access

Dogs allowed. Keep dog under control at all times. Other pets on conservation land rules.

Description

From the Donnelly Flat Loop Walk, follow the first part of the well-graded Gentle Annie Track to a viewing platform. There are extensive views of Powell Hut, Mt Holdsworth, Jumbo Hut, Mitre Flat, Atiwhakatu valley and the plains out east.

Getting there

The track starts from the end of Mt Holdsworth Road.

2 km south of Masterton, turn off SH2 into Norfolk Road, which turns into Mt Holdsworth Road. Follow signs to Tararua Forest Park, about 15 km from SH2.

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.

Sources & official links

  1. 1.Rocky Lookout: official route information— Department of Conservation
  2. 2.DOC walking and tramping directory— Department of Conservation

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