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Bay of Plenty · Hiking

White Pine Bush Track: Walking Guide, Time & Access

A walker seen from behind carrying a grey and orange backpack, with hills in the background.

Illustrative photograph. General backpacking illustration; location unverified. This is not a photograph of the named route or evidence of its terrain, condition or difficulty.

Photo: Cody Black / Unsplash License / Details

A 250 metre wheelchair accessible walkway has been built into the heart of White Pine Bush Scenic Reserve.

Last checked 8 October 2026 · Department of Conservation

By Outdoor Next Editorial standards

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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 information
Location source

DOC track reference point, not a verified trailhead, entrance or the whole route.

Reference point: -38.01248, 176.94681. 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
250 m loop
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

A 250 metre wheelchair accessible walkway has been built into the heart of White Pine Bush Scenic Reserve.

This DOC directory entry covers White Pine Bush Track 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: 250 m loop
  • 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

The 4.5 hectare reserve contains a remnant of superb kahikatea (white pine) forest that once occupied the fringes of the extensive wetland in the area. The reserve has huge kahikatea, dwarfing the tawa and pukatea that provide most of the remaining tree cover. Nikau palms are also an attraction. Hanging vines, shrubs and ferns proliferate under the tree canopy, providing habitat for native birds including tui, kereru (native pigeons), fantails, bellbirds, silver-eyes, grey warblers and ruru (morepork).A 250 metre wheelchair accessible walkway has been built into the heart of the reserve to allow people with disabilities to enjoy the forest. The walkway incorporates a nature trail, where the many tree and plant species present are identified.

Getting there

White Pine Bush Scenic Reserve is on White Pine Bush Road (SH2), between Awakeri and Tāneatua, 20 km south of Whakatāne.

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.

Sources & official links

  1. 1.White Pine Bush Track: official route information— Department of Conservation
  2. 2.DOC walking and tramping directory— Department of Conservation

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