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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: -37.97975, 177.07065. 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
- 1 km return return via same track
- Walking time
- 30 min
- Track grade
- Easiest
- Location
- Whakatāne area
- Dog access
- No dogs. 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 short walk provides panoramic views of Ohiwa Harbour, right down to the East coast. Hikurangi maunga can be seen with snow on at times. It also showcases Moutohorā and Whakaari offshore islands slightly west.
This DOC directory entry covers Tauwhare Pā short walk in Bay of Plenty, within Whakatāne 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 km return return via same track
- Walking time: 30 min
- DOC grade: Easiest
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 short walk takes you through Tauwhare Pā. There is a high point on the walk that overlooks many points of interest.
The walk includes views of:
Ohiwa Harbour
the East Coast
Hikurangi maunga
Moutohorā island
Whakaari (White Island)
Ohakana Island – the island within the harbour
a Ruakumara(Kumara pit)
remnants of traditional pā fortifications such as the trenches, palisades, and pā.
There are picnic tables in carpark.
Getting there
This short walk is inside Tauwhare Pā Scenic Reserve. You can get to the start of the walk from Wainui Road, Ōhope. The parking for the pā site is located on Wainui Road.
Nature and conservation
Tauwhare Pā Scenic Reserve contains a good example of pohutukawa forest which grades into estuarine vegetation.
Common forest-dwelling bird species in the reserve include the:
grey warbler
silvereye
New Zealand kingfisher
tūī, and
kererū.
Native lizards are likely to be present.
History and culture
Tauwhare Pā is a significant site for the local Whakatāne iwi, Ngāti Awa. The name Tauwhare implies 'the village suspended in space'.
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.
