Kaiaraara Track to Mt Hobson (Hirakimata)
WalkAuckland
- Grade
- Easy
- Walking time
- 3 hr
- Distance
- 5.6 km
- Dogs
- No dogs
Getting there
We have not checked a road end or car park for this place yet, so we do not give driving directions to it. Check how to get there before you go. Some routes cross private land and need the landowner's permission.
How to get there, on doc.govt.nzFrom Port Fitzroy, follow Kaiaraara Bay Road to its end. A short walk leads to Kaiaraara Hut and the start of the track.
Source: DOC Te Papa Atawhai.
Map
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Topo map: LINZ, CC BY 4.0. 36.18165° S, 175.38048° E
About this place
Walk to the remains of the old kauri dam, and up to the summit of Mt Hobson (Hirakimata) for a 360-degree panorama.
The route
Kaiaraara Track offers a striking experience for walkers - a wide array of flora from tiny plants and ground cover to large trees in established forest, historic sites and, towards the summit, panoramas of the island, its bays and beaches and neighbouring islands. From Forest Road, the track rises steadily to Cooper’s Castle Track junction, crossing the stream in several places using a series of suspension and wooden bridges. A short distance from this junction is a side-track to the remains of the Lower Kauri Dam. What remains of the Lower Kauri Dam (1 hr 30 min from Kaiaraara Hut) was built in the 1920s, along with six smaller dams higher up. Logs estimated to contain seven million feet of timber were slid into the dams. Once loaded, the dams were tripped one after the other so a full blast hit the lower dam, propelling the logs into Kaiaraara Bay. The Lower Dam was washed away in a storm in 2014 and only the base can be seen in the stream. The track above the dam area winds through semi-mature forest with good examples of tōwai and large kohekohe. From here, the track climbs steeply via wooden steps that protect black petrel nesting grounds and sensitive ecosystems to the summit.
Source: DOC Te Papa Atawhai.
Nearby stops
Kaiaraara Hut
Serviced • 28 bunks • Auckland • 0.3 km
Kaiaraara Hut is a 28-bunk serviced hut located on Great Barrier Island in the Hauraki Gulf. Bookings must be made online in advance.
Cooking • Heating • Mattresses
Akapoua Bay Campsite
Standard • Auckland • 1.9 km
Akapoua Bay Campsite is a family-oriented campsite located near the sheltered waters of Port FitzRoy in Auckland. It offers easy access to many of the island's…
Boat launching • Non-powered/tent sites • Shelter for cooking
Mt Heale Hut
Serviced • 20 bunks • Auckland • 3.2 km
Mt Heale Hut is a serviced 20-bunk hut located on Great Barrier Island in the Auckland region. Bookings for the hut must be made in advance online.
Cooking • Mattresses • Toilets - non-flush
Whangapoua Campsite
Standard • Auckland • 5.5 km
Whangapoua Campsite is located on the edge of the Whangapoua estuary in the Auckland region. The site offers scenic views and is close to a popular surf break.
Non-powered/tent sites • Shelter for cooking • Shower - cold
The Green Campsite
Standard • Auckland • 6.4 km
The Green Campsite is a small walk-in or boat-in campsite located on the sheltered waters of Whangaparapara Harbour in Auckland.
Non-powered/tent sites • Shelter for cooking • Water from tap - not treated, boil before use
Walks nearby
Port FitzRoy: Kaiaraara Hut side tracks
Advanced • Various: 35 min - 4 hr one way • 1.38 km away
Port FitzRoy: Cooper's Castle Track
Advanced • 2 hr 30 min - 3 hr one way • 1.52 km away
Port FitzRoy: Old Lady Track
Easy • 1 hr • 2.73 km away
Aotea Track
Advanced • 2-3 days • 2.83 km away
Forest Road (Port FitzRoy - Whangaparapara)
Advanced • 5 hr • 13 km • 3.78 km away
Notes from people who have been
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Sources
- DOC Tracks (API) · CC BY 4.0Crown Copyright: Department of Conservation Te Papa Atawhai. Data sourced from the DOC Developer Portal (api.doc.govt.nz).