Starting at the Kaniwhaniwha car park follow the Nikau Walk, past the Kaniwhaniwha Caves to the bridge just before the big kahikatea. From the bridge you climb a spur to a series of clearings. The last clearing, signposted as the halfway point, has a small stream nearby and is a good campsite. The track becomes muddy at this point and continues along the ridge to the Cone (second highest point on the mountain) and then to Pahautea Hut. It is another 30 minutes to Pirongia’s summit.