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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: -38.22671, 177.18137. 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
- 7-8 hr one way
- Track grade
- Expert
- Location
- Ōpōtiki area / Waioweka Conservation 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
Te U Route travels from the Waiotahi Valley Road end to Te U Bivvy (staff accommodation) in the Waioweka Conservation Area.
This DOC directory entry covers Te U Route in Gisborne, within Ōpōtiki area / Waioweka Conservation 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: 7-8 hr one way
- DOC grade: Expert
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
From Waiotahi Valley Road end follow the Waiotahi River which has numerous benched sections all the way up to a fork where the route leaves the river and heads up a spur. Follow the well marked spur up and over the saddle into the Kaharoa Stream. Follow the Kaharoa downstream to Te U Bivvy on the true left.
Note: At 2013, NZTopo50 BF40 Matahi map shows the ridge section incorrectly.
Getting there
From Opotiki, follow SH2 west. After approx. 15 km, turn left onto Toone Rd, then after approx. 2 km right onto Waiotahi Valley Rd. Follow Waiotahi Valley Road to the end - approx. 17 km.
Know before you go
The route is suitable for fit trampers with good navigational skills and backcountry experience.
Check river levels and weather before you go as rivers can rise rapidly.
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.
