Kokowai Track @ Toptracks.info

DoC recommended times and track type:

Where is it? Access is gained from the Kaiauai track that is accessed from the North Egmont road, or the foot of the Ram track. Allow 30 minutes from the road. The top end of the Kokowai intersects with the Around the Mountain track about an hour east of Holly Hut. Older maps show access to the bottom of this track via a three wire bridge across the Waiwhakaiho from the access road. This bridge is very definitely gone! An extra two kilometres of walking is now required. Features This is an interesting walk with a range of vegetation to study. On the lower section are some very large trees. The lichens are mosses are also impressive in places. The lowest part of the track runs alongside the river, then climbs to the cliffs above the river before finishing along a ridge above the snow line. Impressive views of the valley floor, mountain, and ring plain. You will find erosion (where the track has had to be diverted), and see evidence of past slips.
Accessibility Although this track is a very good one, because it is so steep, there is a degree of difficulty. It would suit High School level pupils and above. A good circuit would be from North Egmont, up to the Around the Mountain track heading to Holly Hut to the top of the Kokowai, descending down this to the Kaiauai and walking out to the Kaiauai car park. This would result in the majority of the walk being down hill. Dangers Extra care would be needed in a couple of places where the track runs along the top edge of cliffs which fall a considerable distance straight down to the river valley.

This information gathered while on site in 2004.

Where is it?

Access is gained from the Kaiauai track that is accessed from the North Egmont road, or the foot of the Ram track. Allow 30 minutes from the road. The top end of the Kokowai intersects with the Around the Mountain track about an hour east of Holly Hut.

Older maps show access to the bottom of this track via a three wire bridge across the Waiwhakaiho from the access road. This bridge is very definitely gone! An extra two kilometres of walking is now required.

Features

This is an interesting walk with a range of vegetation to study. On the lower section are some very large trees. The lichens are mosses are also impressive in places. The lowest part of the track runs alongside the river, then climbs to the cliffs above the river before finishing along a ridge above the snow line. Impressive views of the valley floor, mountain, and ring plain. You will find erosion (where the track has had to be diverted), and see evidence of past slips.

Accessibility

Although this track is a very good one, because it is so steep, there is a degree of difficulty. It would suit High School level pupils and above. A good circuit would be from North Egmont, up to the Around the Mountain track heading to Holly Hut to the top of the Kokowai, descending down this to the Kaiauai and walking out to the Kaiauai car park. This would result in the majority of the walk being down hill.

Dangers

Extra care would be needed in a couple of places where the track runs along the top edge of cliffs which fall a considerable distance straight down to the river valley.


Kokowai Track
DoC recommended times and track type:
2 hours
tramping track
This track is in the North Egmont area. It is a steeply graded track with many steps. At its foot (900m asl) it begins in lush bush, at the top end (1200m) on the Around the Mountain track, above the snow line.