Rerekapa Hut Walk

3.20 kms • 1 Hour 20 Minutes • Easy

1 April 2021
Walked by: Sandra from Freewalks

Home » North Island » Taranaki Region » New Plymouth » Rerekapa Hut Walk

Rerekapa hut in hidden in the Moki Forest an easy 1 hour 20 min walk.

To the south of Moki Forest is the popular Mt Messenger Forest, great walks and hunting

Quick Facts about this walk

Location: North Island NZ
Distance: 3.20 kms
Time needed: 1 Hour 20 Minutes
Difficulty: Easy
Wheelchair Access: No
Route: Double back
Elevation: 360m
Wet Feet: No
Toilets: Yes
Dogs: Yes
Mobile Coverage: No
Last Updated: November, 2019

We’ve partnered with Macpac outdoor walking & hiking gear to bring you the very best products designed exclusively for our New Zealand climate. They’ll ship for FREE within NZ on orders over $100 (if under $100 it’s only $5). Worldwide international shipping is available except to the USA. Bulky orders will be $20.

Summary points about this walk

Walk Highlights

Unknown

Track Quality

Getting across the creek to the bush track can be boggy, we had to cross a very slippery slip

Hazards

We had trouble crossing a new slip.

Transport

Unknown

Water

Take all your water, the creek at the Rerekapa Hut was OK

Driving Instructions

This is the way we went: 84km If you are in down town N/P, get onto Courtenay St, the one way St running East on the highway, 45km to Waitara, 18km Urenui, 34km, Uruti 50km. At 60km you should be winding your way up to Mt Messenger and through the tunnel. At 66km, slow down and take the second turn to the right after the tunnel at Ahititi. On to Highway 40. To Ohura and Taumarunui. And Mt Damper Falls. The next 12km is a very interesting drive along the Tongaporutu River. Drive past Toll Rd and through the second tunnel 5km away. The second road on the right is Kiwi Rd. On a left hand corner. Now, drive with the utmost caution, the next 6km is on a one lane road and is used by the farmer to take the kids to school in the morning and afternoon.The drive up to the third tunnel is very narrow and steep. Drive through the tunnel, down to the bottom of the hill for another 1Km and past the old red shearing shed. 100m on the left is the start of the track. Or if travelling from New Plymouth the quickest route is via Uruti Road, Moki Road then Kiwi Road.

Shops & Restaurants Nearby

26 Km to Urenui, North of New Plymouth

Area & Trail History

Rerekapa hut in hidden in the Moki Forest,to the south of Moki Forest is the popular Mt Messenger Forest. The drive to the start of the Rerekapa Hut will take you 1 hour 15 minutes to cover the 84km north of New Plymouth. One of the highlights of this drive is the Kiwi tunnel 188m long. The last 20 minutes of the drive is on a narrow gravel road. They tried to settle this area in the late 1800. The boys returning from WW2 were given land to farm but most of them walked out after only two years of cold, wet and demanding years. If you drive for another five minutes down Kiwi Road past the Rerekapa Hut track and onto the large stand of Macrocarpa trees, this is where a village was build in 1895. Another 1000m on and you will drive through another a tunnel. The road from here on is very, very narrow just one car wide so take it easy.

Map Location

Motorhome Rental Deals

Find motorhome deals

specials

Save up to 75% off tours

Find cheap tours

specials

Points of interest along the walk

Point 1: Rerekapa Hut Start

The last tunnel before driving down to the farm land. It’s a great place to stop and get out of the rain. At the bottom of the hill, over on the right is a large stand of Macrocarpa trees. This was the site of the first village in the area in the late 1800. Drive past the stock yards on the left and around the sharp right hand corner. As you round the next left hand corner you will see the red shearing shed ahead of you on the left. 100m past the shed on the left is the gate to the track. Look for the green sign post. Don’t drive though the gate if the ground looks a little wet, it is a good walk to the next farm house, and if the farmer is out the back of the station you will be waiting all day for him to tow you out.

Point 2: Rerekapa Hut

Just follow the orange markers across the farm land but look across to the ridge on your left you can see the old farm track running up into the bush. Do not drink out of the farm creeks you do not know what has been lying in them. Getting across the creek, swamp can be very tricky if it has been raining. There was a rather big slip just as we entered the bush, but with a little crawling and hanging on tight to tree roots we made it across to a very easy walk to the hut. It was a very easy track to follow and to walk on. The Rerekapa hut has had a major upgrade and clean up which is really nice. If you have time up your sleeve walk on to the Rerekapa falls about another hour and a few minutes.