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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: -38.61482, 176.73422. 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 | 1 hr
- Track grade
- Easy
- Location
- Whirinaki Te Pua-a-Tāne Conservation Park
- Dog access
- Dogs with a DOC permit only. Contact closest DOC office to get a permit. 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
Walk through native forest, along the Whirinaki River or uphill to great views, on these short walks from the Whirinaki Recreation Camp.
This DOC directory entry covers Whirinaki Recreation Camp tracks in Gisborne, within Whirinaki Te Pua-a-Tāne Conservation Park. 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 | 1 hr
- 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 only. Contact closest DOC office to get a permit. Other pets on conservation land rules.
Description
All tracks are accessed from the Whirinaki Recreation Camp.
Loop Track to River
Time: 30 minDistance: 1 km loop
During summer an easy walk along the Whirinaki River through native forest gives access to the river for swimming.
Lookout track
Time: 1 hrDistance: 1.8 km return
The easy walk starts across the road from the Recreation Camp and winds uphill to a clearing giving great views.
Wiremu Merito Reserve track
Time: 1 hrDistance: 2 km return
A well-graded and interpreted track through magnificent podocarp forests.
Getting there
Drive south from Murupara to Minginui Village (28 km).
The camp is 5 km from Minginui Village on Old Te Whaiti Road.
Know before you go
Track condition
This site may be damaged with slips, flooding or fallen trees from severe weather. Be prepared to turn back if needed.
Mangawiri access restrictions
A gate has been installed beyond Whirinaki Recreation Campground. Vehicle access past this point is not allowed.
This change supports DOC and local iwi aspirations for cultural and environmental outcomes, biodiversity monitoring, and the protection of natural values. The gate also helps address compliance issues, including the illegal removal of native vegetation, and provides security for current and future monitoring projects.
You can still walk beyond the gate. Hunting and fishing beyond the gate are discouraged.
Local 4WD clubs may apply for access in advance.
For more information, email easternbop@doc.govt.nz.
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.
