Tree Trunk Gorge Track
Kaimanawa Forest Park · Waikato
We drew and checked this walk ourselves against the authority quoted above before publishing it. The route line comes from official track data. DOC’s own wording: “Dogs with a DOC permit only. Contact closest DOC office to get a permit”. Evidence: the rule-setter’s own published wording. How we check dog rules.
Good to know
A DOC dog permit is required before any dog walks here. DOC codes this land for the hunting-dog permit, so it is not a casual dog walk. Ask the DOC office before planning to bring a dog.
Opens your email app, addressed to [email protected]. You can also call DOC on 0800 275 362.
About Tree Trunk Gorge Track
Tree Trunk Gorge Track is a moderate-length walk of 4.3 km, near Kaimanawa Forest Park in Waikato.
A tramping track on the line of an old Tongariro Power Scheme road, linking Urchin Campsite on Kaimanawa Road with the Tree Trunk Gorge Road end, 23 km south of Tūrangi. It is wide, well graded and shared with mountain bikers, through red beech most of the way, with an open ridge near the Tree Trunk Gorge end looking out to Tongariro National Park. DOC time it at 1 hr 30 min one way. Expect several stream crossings, most unbridged. DOC flag a larger one 15 minutes from the southern end, and walkers heading out from Urchin have found a crossing knee deep, so plan on wet feet and turn around after heavy rain. A dog needs a DOC permit from the Tūrangi office for all of Kaimanawa Forest Park.
Graded easy, it climbs about 102 m overall, and takes about 1 hr 2 min to walk.
A DOC dog permit is required before any dog walks here. Arrange it with the managing DOC office ahead of your trip.
