The Hakarimata Range in the Waikato sits just west of Ngāruawāhia and Taupiri and overlooks the conjunction of the Waikato and Waipa Rivers. The Hakarimata Walkway runs along the ridgeline of the Range, which is also a section of Te Aararoa. It can be accessed from several points, including the Kauri Loop Walk at the north end of the range.
Access to this track is from Riverview Road (which turns into Hakarimata Road) and then along Parker Road. Riverview runs along the west side of the Waikato River between Huntly and Ngāruawāhia.
From the car park, head straight up the track past the turn to the Kauri Loop Track. It’s a steep 240-metre vertical climb with a lot of stairs for about 1.4 km, so allow about 30 minutes or so. The track runs through a mix of regenerating and established native forest to a viewpoint at 260 metres.
From there, you are high above the Waikato River and wider region to the east. You can then continue on along the Hakarimata Walkway, including the Upper Lookout about 500 metres along the walkway, or take the Kauri Loop which adds about 20 minutes of walking to the return trip.
