Dover Track @ Top Tracks.info

Where is it? If descending this track you will join it from the western end of the Pouakai track. Ascending from the northern or coastal end it can be accessed from Upper Pitone Road, Carrington Road, or Dover Road itself. The easiest way if coming from New Plymouth is to drive up Carrington, continue past Pukeiti to the Katikari stream, parking on the left just over the bridge. If you drive around the coast from New Plymouth turn left up Upper Pitone then right at Carrington, looking out for Katikari Stream. The Dover Road turnoff is around 500m north of Okato on the main road. If you take Dover, you need to turn left when you get to Carrington, with the beginning of the track immediately on your right. After the initial swamp, the path ascends through a paddock of blackberries, then enters a pocket of very scruffy bush. As you climb the bush appears more natural and untouched. As you get higher, the climb becomes steeper. There is some rock climbing to do when you emerge from the bush onto grasslands. From the trig you can continue on (now on the Pouakai track) past where the old hut was to the junction of the Ahukawakawa track and on to the Pouakai Hut. Descending from here will take you to Mangorei Road. It is 17 kilometres by road from here around to the start of the Dover, a worthwhile training loop of 31 km's but I suggest leaving a bike for you at Mangorei.
Features The views, the rocks Track Surface If you successfully navigate the first few metres through the mud, you will find the rest okay. It is muddy in places, but not too bad. As it is classed a tramping track, boots would be preferable unless there has been a couple of weeks of fine weather previously. Accessibility It is a good track, but is definitely a tramping track. The grade is steady, but the climb although not long, will test your fitness. To the trig and back in a day would be an energetic outing. Dangers Once the rocks start you need to stay on the track. There are some bluffs that are high enough to make it difficult to get back up. If continuing past the trig, be careful of the timber steps which are best avoided as they are severely eroded.
Additional Notes An article on the Dover Track was published in the Taranaki Daily News on 20 September 2004.

Where is it?

If descending this track you will join it from the western end of the Pouakai track. Ascending from the northern or coastal end it can be accessed from Upper Pitone Road, Carrington Road, or Dover Road itself. The easiest way if coming from New Plymouth is to drive up Carrington, continue past Pukeiti to the Katikari stream, parking on the left just over the bridge. If you drive around the coast from New Plymouth turn left up Upper Pitone then right at Carrington, looking out for Katikari Stream. The Dover Road turnoff is around 500m north of Okato on the main road. If you take Dover, you need to turn left when you get to Carrington, with the beginning of the track immediately on your right.

After the initial swamp, the path ascends through a paddock of blackberries, then enters a pocket of very scruffy bush. As you climb the bush appears more natural and untouched. As you get higher, the climb becomes steeper. There is some rock climbing to do when you emerge from the bush onto grasslands.

From the trig you can continue on (now on the Pouakai track) past where the old hut was to the junction of the Ahukawakawa track and on to the Pouakai Hut. Descending from here will take you to Mangorei Road. It is 17 kilometres by road from here around to the start of the Dover, a worthwhile training loop of 31 km's but I suggest leaving a bike for you at Mangorei.


Dover Track
DoC recommended times and track type:
From the road, 3 and a half hours to trig
From the road, 4 and a half hours to Pouakai Hut
tramping track
One end of this track is on Carrington Road, about four kilometres west of Pukeiti Gardens. It ascends almost the whole way to the trig. The views once you come out of the bush are fantastic.