Kakepuku Track
Te Kopua
Your Nature Guide
Marios Gavalas
Author And Researcher
Nau mai, haere mai
Nau mai, haere mai
I'm Marios, delivering the best of Aotearoa's nature walks to your device.
I've personally walked hundreds of New Zealand's tracks and spent months in libraries uncovering interesting information on New Zealand/Aotearoa. And you'll find a slice of that research on this page - enjoy!
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Information
Kakepuku Track
7.4 km return | 3 hours return
The summit and slopes were set aside as a Scenic Reserve over a century ago. More recently, the Kakepuku Mountain Conservation Project initiative is aiming to restore some native biodiversity to the mountain. Like the rest of the Waikato, the fertile, well watered soils are a boom for animal products, but at the expense of habitat for native wildlife. Since 1995, predator control, weed removal and plantings of tawa, kohekohe and rewarewa have allowed reintroductions of birds such as robins and captive-bred karearea.
Walking Track
Access
Kakepuku is signposted 3.3 km from the junction with Te Mawhai Road and Kakepuku Road. There’s a large parking area with a toilet, just after the start of the track.
Track
The farm road is mostly grassed but nearer the top can become slippery when wet. A lookout platform and several benches provide views over the misty Waikato paddocks. This bottom section is shared with mountain bikers.
Where the farm track ends the steps begin. A tomokanga and welcome poem grace the entrance to the terraced pa - a sacred site and historic reserve.
The viewing platform will have to be heightened soon as the surrounding forest is competing. Nevertheless there are expansive views all the way to Ruapehu. The other sister volcanoes - Pirongia, Karoi and Maungatautari are all there.
Geology
Between 2.7 and 1.6 million years ago a series of volcanic eruptions formed 7 cones in the Waikato region. Pirongia, Karioi, Te Kawa and Tokanui were others. Kakepuku was one such composite cone of basaltic lava, ash, pumice and other volcanic ejecta.
Polynesian History
Ngati Unu and Ngati Kahu claim mana whenua. The pa, Hikurangi, atop the hill, was never captured.
Kaepuku was named by the Tainui tohunga, Rakataura, a flattering allusion to the form of his pregnant wife, Kahurere.
Another story related to Kakepuku wondering in search of his estranged father. At the Waipa plains, he fell in love with Te Kawa, a daughter of Pirongia and Taupiri. Another suitor, Karewa, challenged Kakepuku for Te Kawa’s love, but lost and was banished to the west.
European History
Governor Hobson climbed the mountain in 1842, by which time the pa were abandoned.
Details
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Organisation |
DOC WaikatoCentral government organisation |
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Location |
North Island ▷ Waikato ▷ Otorohanga |
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Walking
Nearby
Reviews
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4.0/5
I love this walk.
It is used by a lot of locals as exercise. Amazing 360 degree views of Pirongia, Tongariro National Park, Te Aroha and if you are lucky Taranaki and more.