Top 10 Waikato Walking Trails
Hakarimata Scenic Reserve
Venture up to the Hakarimata Summit, 374 metres above sea level, on the Hakarimata Summit Track, which includes the infamous staircase, a popular challenge with both locals and visitors alike.
Location: Brownlee Avenue & Parker Road, off Hakarimata Road, Ngaruawahia
Wairere Falls, Matamata
Just 10 minutes’ drive from Matamata, the Wairere Falls is the highest waterfall in the North Island and a popular walking track in the Waikato.
Location: Goodwin Road, off Old Te Aroha Road, Te Aroha
Waiorongomai Valley, Te Aroha
The Waiorongomai Valley near Te Aroha is a significant gold mining area in the Kaimai Mamaku Forest Park which offers numerous walking trails that take in key historic gold mining sites.
Location: Goodwin Road, off Old Te Aroha Road, Te Aroha
Ruakuri Reserve Walk, Waitomo
Based in the Ruakuri Scenic Reserve, a place of strong cultural significance to Maori, the walk includes limestone outcrops, native forest and small caves to be explored.
Location: 4km from Waitomo Village on Tumutumu Road
Lake Te Koo Utu, Cambridge
A popular spot with locals, the Lake Te Koo Utu walk is an easy, flat trail suitable for pushchairs and the variety of trees and gardens planted around the lake make for varied and picturesque settings year round.
Location: Carpark and main entrance off Albert Street, Cambridge
Taitua Arboretum, Hamilton
Featuring lakes, woodland gardens, birdlife and ample picnic spots, all linked by a network of walking tracks, the Taitua Arboretum is perfect for a leisurely weekend stroll, family picnic or more active outing.
Location: Taitua Road, Hamilton
Bridal Veil Falls, Raglan
Bridal Veil Falls walk is an easy 10-minute walk through native bush to two viewing platforms at the top, both providing stunning vistas and ample photo opportunities of the plunging white falls flanked by grey rock and green bush.
Location: State Highway 23, between Te Uku and Raglan
Mt Te Aroha, Te Aroha
From the summit there are 360 degree views across the Waikato and Bay of Plenty regions, and Mt Ruapehu, Mt Ngauruhoe and Mt Taranaki are all visible on a clear day.
Location: Te Aroha Domain, Te Aroha
Hamilton Lake, Hamilton
An easy trail situated in the heart of Hamilton City, the Hamilton Lake Domain Walkway is popular with both runners and walkers alike.
Location: Ruakiwi Road and Lake Cresent, Hamilton City
Mt Pirongia Mangakara Nature Walk, Pirongia
Perfect for children, the easy track meanders through ancient forest past large rimu, kahikatea, tawa, pukatea and kohekohe trees and crosses over the Mangakara stream before looping back around.
Location: Grey Road, Pirongia Forest Park, Pirongia
