Kaiauai Track @ Toptracks.info

Where is it? Upon entering the Egmont National Park on the North Egmont access road, you will discover a small car park, after around four kilometres, on the right side of the road shortly after passing the Mangaoraka picnic area on the left. From this parking area enter the bush and after crossing two small bridges you will come to an intersection. The Ram track heads up to the left, the Waiwhakaiho goes to the right. After about five minutes you take a left turn that marks the true beginning of the Kaiauai. The Waiwhakaiho track goes straight on. Just after crossing the swing bridge another junction is reached, with the Kokowai track heading to the left. The Kaiauai goes to the right. Orange triangular markers will help guide you to the Kaiauai shelter. Parts of the track are in the river beds so the markers are a big help in navigating your way safely.
After the shelter there are no more track markers, but the track is clear to see. As you approach Henry’s Peak, the track gets progressively steeper, but just when you think it cannot possibly get any worse, track maintenance teams have created wooden steps. From here to the summit of Henry’s Peak where there is a viewing platform the going gets much easier. Continuing on to Pouakai Hut are wooden ladders, boardwalks and steps, pretty much the whole way.
Features The views of the mountain from places on this track are arguably the best in the park. Accessibility Portions of this track follow stream, beds, there are many river crossings, but only one swing bridge. If there has been a frost, boulder hopping is not the safest of sports, they are slippery even when they don’t look it. *From the road to the Kaiauai shelter the recommended time is 90 minutes, but this is unrealistic, two hours is more like it. Another two and a half to Pouakai hut on a good day. This track is hard going in places even with the track work that is in progress.
Dangers Following the track markers is essential as there are places where it appears that the track heads, but the markers go elsewhere. Also, if you are walking from Pouakai to the North Egmont access road, beware coming down Henry’s Peak. Maybe twenty minutes before you arrive at the Kaiauai shelter there is a sharp left hand turn that you need to make as the track then runs along the top edge of a cliff. This information gathered while on site in 2004.

Where is it?

Upon entering the Egmont National Park on the North Egmont access road, you will discover a small car park, after around four kilometres, on the right side of the road shortly after passing the Mangaoraka picnic area on the left. From this parking area enter the bush and after crossing two small bridges you will come to an intersection. The Ram track heads up to the left, the Waiwhakaiho goes to the right. After about five minutes you take a left turn that marks the true beginning of the Kaiauai. The Waiwhakaiho track goes straight on.

Just after crossing the swing bridge another junction is reached, with the Kokowai track heading to the left. The Kaiauai goes to the right. Orange triangular markers will help guide you to the Kaiauai shelter. Parts of the track are in the river beds so the markers are a big help in navigating your way safely.


Kaiauai Track
DoC recommended times and track type:
Access road to Kaiauai shelter 90* minutes Kaiauai shelter to Pouakai hut 2* hours
tramping track
This interesting track forms part of the Pouakai Circuit walk. It runs between the North Egmont access road, heads north crossing several rivers and streams before winding its way up to Henry’s Peak where it continues on as the Pouakai Track descending past Maude's Peak to the Pouakai Hut.