This track is part of Te Araroa Trail.
The track can be walked from either direction. Walking south from Scotts Road is easiest for the steepest gradient is then downhill. If going from south to north, an extra 1 hour 30 minutes is recommended due to the uphill climb from the Tokomaru River in the latter part of the walk.
The following track description applies to the walk when undertaken from north to south.
A stile crosses the fence and an information sign is located just before the bridge over the Kahuterawa Stream.
- DOC Boundary 1 hour 30 minutes
- Tokomaru River 3 hours
- Burtton’s Whare site 3 hours 30 minutes
- Mangahao Road Carpark 6 hours
The walk commences following the metalled forestry road alongside the Kahuterawa Stream.
After around 40 minutes there is an open clearing where the forest roads fork. The trail is clearly marked taking the right road and passing remains of former farm buildings and yards.
An hour from the start, a second locked gate is passed, the track then climbs steadily and the plantation forest gradually changes to regrowth native bush.
Following along the forest park boundary, views of Kaihinau, the Tokomaru Gorge and the Manawatu Plain are visible to the West. The gradient increases until the signpost and stile marking entry into Tararua Forest Park are reached. This is where the DOC-managed track begins.
The track then descends from 500 metres above sea level down to No 1 Stream at 200 metres above sea level taking about an hour and is clearly marked with DOC orange triangles.
Most of the year the creek is low and easily crossed but as with all back country rivers and streams, can be hazardous and requires care during periods of rain and high water.
The track crosses the No 1 stream and then follows the eastern side of the Tokomaru River. Previously the track crossed the Tokomaru River twice, so this may still be shown on your map – avoid crossing the river and instead use the newly re-routed track.
The track re-enters the forest park – this is the start of the original Burtton’s Track. Five minutes further on the former Burtton’s Whare site is reached. Considered as midway when going south it is an ideal site for a lunch break.
From here the track is the historical trail built by Jim Burtton almost 100 years ago. It follows up the Tokomaru River.
After another 1 hour 30 minutes a further stile is crossed as the track passes out of Tararua Forest Park and a cairn commemorating the opening of the trail by the Prime Minister in February 2006 can be seen.
The final hour of walk, 3.2 km is along the former Tokomaru Valley Road. This road is closed to unauthorised traffic but is sometimes used by registered 4WD vehicles.
The DOC track ends at the carpark just off the Mangahao Road 7.7 km from the Mangahao Power Station. From here you have the option of arranging transport, walking down Mangahao Road towards Shannon, or continuing up the road towards the dams to the Mangahao-Makahika Track.
