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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: -35.88795, 174.13356. 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
- 1 hr 25 one way
- Track grade
- Easy
- Location
- Tangihua Forest
- 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
The Whakapono and Tumanako tracks form a loop. Plan for the walk to take about 2-3 hours if you wish to complete the full loop.
This DOC directory entry covers Whakapono and Tumanako tracks in Northland, within Tangihua Forest. 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: 1 hr 25 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 Whakapono and Tumanako tracks create loop tracks and are great for a pleasant half day out.
The Whakapono track leaves just inside the bush line at the Lions Lodge and heads up a spur to the ridge where it joins the Horokaka Track and a little further up it reaches the junction of the Tumanako track.
Either return on the Tumanako Track back down the hill to the lodge or follow the Horokaka or Te Haua Uru Track for a longer tramp.
Times:
Whakapono: 1 hr 15 min one way from car park
Tumanako: 1 hr 25 min one way from car park
Whakapono/Tumanako loop: 2 hr 30 min from car park return
Getting there
The tracks are in Tangihua Forest, halfway between Whangārei on Northland's east coast and Dargaville on the west coast. Your best access into Tangihua Forest is from Omana Road.
The Omana Road Tangihua access car park has parking for 15 cars. You will need to walk 30 minutes along a formed road to the bush line. From here, it is another 15 minutes to Lions Lodge and the start of the tracks.
Know before you go
There is no water source in the forest so carry plenty of water to drink.
Be well-prepared for changeable weather conditions.
The ridge area in the forest is exposed to rough weather.
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.
