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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: -39.21758, 176.90917. 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
- 5 km or 7.1 km loop
- Walking time
- 2 hr or 5 hr via Gailbraith's Track or 4.5 hr via Kahikanui Track
- Track grade
- Easy
- Location
- Tūtira area
- Seasonal restrictions
- Closed for lambing 1 August – 30 September
- 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
Discover magnificent views of the Tūtira Station and the adjoining Lake Tūtira Recreation Reserve as you walk along the Tūtira Walkway.
This DOC directory entry covers Tūtira Walkway in Hawke's Bay, within Tūtira 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: 5 km or 7.1 km loop
- Walking time: 2 hr or 5 hr via Gailbraith's Track or 4.5 hr via Kahikanui Track
- 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.
- Track network closures for Tūtira Walkway; First published on 19 September 2024. Last reviewed on 1 July 2026.
Seasonal restrictions
Closed for lambing 1 August – 30 September
Dog access
No dogs. Other pets on conservation land rules.
Description
The Tūtira Walkway has two options, the short loop via Kahikanui Track and the long loop via Galbraith's Track.
From the lake, either walk beside the lake on Galbraith's Track before climbing up the hill or go up Kahikanui Track and climb up straight up the hill. Both tracks ascend to Table Mountain Trig. From here, take in magnificent views of the inland Kaweka and Maungaharuru Ranges, and coastal Hawke’s Bay from Mahia Peninsula to Cape Kidnappers/Te Kauwae-a-Māui.
There are shelter, picnic, and toilet facilities at the lake end of the walkway.
Hawke's Bay Regional Council has more information - see Tutira Regional Park.
Getting there
Starting from Bay View stay on State Highway 2 for 31 km.
Turn right into Lake Tūtira Regional Park. Make sure to keep to the left and wait for a safe time to turn if turning right onto this road.
The tracks and Lake Tūtira Campsite are at the end of the road.
Know before you go
Non-motorised boats only are permitted on the lake.
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.
