Access

The track starts from Corcoran Road carpark.

From Pirongia take SH 39 towards Whatawhata and after 5.5 km turn left onto Te Pahu Road.

After 5.5 km left again onto Corcoran Road, and follow this 3 km to the road end parking area.

Track

The first section is metalled and even. Don’t be fooled by the standard of track. It deteriorates. It’s a steady ascent, with criss-crossed root masses and a few muddy sections.

After passing the junction with the Ruapane Track, Ruapane Trig (723m) is a little further. There are views out in most directions.

Keep climbing and after the trig there is a section where chains have been bolted to the rock. The chain can be used as a back-up, while you negotiate the nobbles. Or you can give it greater purchase to haul yourself up (or down). The descents should be treated with the most concentration.

Shortly after there is a sidle around Tirohanga, a bulbous tower. Some massive rata roots hang down the rocky face.

Pass the junctions with the Tahuanui Track (30 minutes before summit) and Mahakura Track (10 minutes before the summit).

And there are a couple of false peaks on the way to the summit tower (959m).

Geology

Pirongia forms part of a volcanic chain in a belt of weak overlying sediments named the Alexandra Volcanics. Basalt lava erupted between 2.7 and 1.6 million years ago, flowing over 20 km to Kawhia.

These volcanic episodes pierced older sediments of limestone, mudstone and sandstone, dating to over 20 million years old.

Flora

At 14,000 hectares, this is the largest unbroken tract of native forest in the Waikato. Tawa are particularly predominant. 58 tree species, 44 shrubs and 110 different ferns are recorded in the forest park.

Polynesian History

The name Pirongia is said to have been conferred by the high-priest (tohunga) Raka-taura. He married Kahurere, daughter of the waka captain, and exhalted ‘Pirongia te aroaro O Kahu’ meaning ‘the fragrant presence of Kahu’.