Walk Details
NZ Walking Routes > Manawatu > Western Ruahine - Kawhatau Base to Crow Hut Loop Track
Western Ruahine - Kawhatau Base to Crow Hut Loop Track
- Location
- Heading just north from Mangaweka turn right off SH1, cross the Rangitikei River and follow Kawhatau Valley Road. This eventually leads to Upper Kawhatau Valley Road which becomes Rangitane Road. Follow this to the car park at the end through farmland
- Description
Day 1: Kawhatau Base to Colenso Trig
Time: 3 – 4 hrClimb the steep track up through forest behind Kawhatau Base to Colenso Trig (1406 m). Just beyond the trig site is a small sheltered basin with good camp spots beside a tarn. Stay here the night and look down on the lights of settlements in the Rangitikei and Manawatu.
Day 2: Colenso Trig to Crow Hut
Time: 6 – 8 hrContinue on up the worn track through tussock for about one hour to the tops of the Mokai Patea range. Turn right and choose a path along the tops through alpine vegetation and bogs till you reach the very steep and slightly hair-raising poled ridge down to Crow Hut. Take extreme care on the top section of this ridge. The track heads back into forest and at the end drops steeply into the Kawhatau River. Negotiate a small bluff before rejoining a track along to the swingbridge crossing the river just before Crow Hut. Due to travel on the unmarked open tops this section should not be attempted in poor visibility or bad weather. Snow can occur any time of year.
Day 3: Crow Hut to Kawhatau Base
Time: 6 – 7 hrFrom the hut a steep track climbs steadily for 3 – 4 hr to the northern end of the Hikurangi Range. Here it joins the poled route down from McKinnon Hut and descends the ridge down to the cableway across the Kawhatau River and on to Kawhatau Base. Unless the river is up, it is easy to cross the river here.
- Level
- Hard
- Amenities
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- Camping
- Carpark
- Historical
- Huts
- Lookouts
- Tramping
- Source
- www.doc.govt.nz
- Discussion
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