Tuahu Track North-South Viewpoint
Kaimai Ranges New Zealand

Type of walk: The Tuahu Track is a Lowland Forest Walk

Time, overall:

6 hr from Tauranga, including travel time
Walking for 4 hr 15 min not including lunch stop of half an hour.
Leave Tauranga (Bethlehem) 9:30, back at 3.30pm

Track conditions:

Views of the Waikato

The tracks are well formed and wide until some way past the Kauri tree. The ground becomes uneven as we wind up into the hills, with a small stream crossing not to be taken lightly in times of flood.

There has been recent work to cut in steps on the kauri tree loop, though this is not finished and there are still some largish steps.

The walk had recently been cleared with a brushcutter, and was thus easy to follow last time I did this walk.

Grading/Fitness required:

Leisurely - Moderate: walk unaided over uneven ground, for 4 hours with average 10min/hour rest. (Leisurely if only going to Kauri Tree)

Recommendations:

The walk is mainly in covered bush, so good for days too hot to be out in full sun
If river in flood, stream a bit over halfway up may be impassable

Points of interest:

Puawananga - native clematis in flower, also tataramoa - bush lawyer, though the flowers are not as showy
Views of Mt Maunganui in distance, Islands nearby as we get higher, and traverse slips
Views of the Waikato over the other side of the hill when we get to the top!!
The walk starts at the end of Hot springs Rd
Lunch on the North-South track, looking out over the Waikato, or back over the Bay of Plenty
After your walk we go to local hot pools just down the road to relax in the warm outdoor pool or scintillate in the hot private spa pools

Finish off the day at the locally famous Morton Estate winery enroute to your accommodation in Tauranga.