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Location & access
DOC track reference point, not a verified trailhead, entrance or the whole route. Check the official route directions before travel.
Official location informationLocation source
DOC track reference point, not a verified trailhead, entrance or the whole route.
Reference point: -35.04839, 173.74988. WGS84 coordinates retained at the official service's returned precision; decimal resolution is not survey accuracy. Source positional accuracy is not specified.
DOC Maps walking and tramping reference point (WGS84), exact official-page GUID / Department of Conservation. Checked 2026-10-12.
Key facts
- Distance
- Not confirmed on the checked DOC page; see individual route sections
- Walking time
- 30 min one way
- Track grade
- Easy
- Location
- Whangaroa area
- Dog access
- Dogs with a DOC permit for recreational hunting or management purposes only. 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
This track climbs up to St Paul's Rock, which stands high above Whangaroa township and provides spectacular views of the Whangaroa Harbour. It's suitable for those with moderate fitness.
This DOC directory entry covers St Paul's Rock Track in Northland, within Whangaroa 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: Not confirmed on the checked DOC page; see individual route sections
- Walking time: 30 min one way
- 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
Dogs with a DOC permit for recreational hunting or management purposes only. Other pets on conservation land rules.
Description
The track climbs steeply through regenerating manuka bush to the top of a volcanic plug (St Paul’s Rock) with spectacular views of the Whangaroa Harbour. Chains are installed to help you climb the last 30 metres.
Getting there
Head north on State Highway 10 to Kaeo. 4 km north of Kaeo, at the one-lane bridge, turn right and follow the river to the Whangaroa township. Turn right on to Old Hospital Road.
You can access the track from the carpark at the end of Old Hospital Road.
Know before you go
A moderate to fairly good level of fitness is needed as the track is steep and can be slippery in places.
Safety
Vertical drop-offs exist at the summit on this track which has no safety barriers. It is recommended that movement on the summit is undertaken with caution and that children are supervised.
Nature and conservation
The rock formations that dominate the scenery around Whangaroa Harbour are remnants of ancient volcanoes that erupted about 20 million years ago. Angular fragments of the volcanic rocks were scattered thickly over the landscape and sea.
The loose debris was rapidly eroded except where natural cementation had bonded the fragments into what now looks like a natural version of coarse, exposed aggregate concrete. You can see this geological phenomenon up close at St Paul’s Rock (Ohakiri Pa).
History and culture
Extensive Māori terraces surround the St Paul's Rock. You can see midden (shell refuse) eroding out from areas of the St Pauls Rock Track.
Europeans did not discover the Whangaroa Harbour until 1807, when Captain Wilkinson of the sealer ship Star sailed into the harbour. The name 'St Pauls' was given to this rock in the 19th century due to its domelike similarity with St Pauls cathedral.
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.
