Waipakihi road

Heading to waipakihi to go camping and do a little hunting. We have been before but we have never gone right to the end of waipakihi road. I know the road turns to gravel (that’s as far as we have driven in) but further along I believe it comes to the river. Is it easily crossed on foot? We will have our 5yo with us. And if we take a 4 wheeler can we cross on that and are there tracks to take using a 4 wheeler? I read there’s a few good camping spots along the river and then you can head on up to waipakihi hut. Any info would be great 😁

Also what’s tree trunk gorge like to set up camp? Any good little camp spots? Does it get very busy? Just trying to get off farm for a few days. We will be hunting but I’m not wanting to know “your best hunting spots” just looking for a nice place to set up and go for day walks.

Kaimanawa Rd is good. Camping on the river or on a couple of places on the Urchin access Rd off Kaimanawa Rd. Good day walks and day hunts.

+1 on kaimanawa road. Some good camping spots and good handy hunting.

Agree.
Tree trunk gorge is quite dangerous terrain but there is a walking track connecting to Kaimanawa road. I would not consider it a good place for a child unless under constant very close supervision.
The end of Waipakahi rd is pretty rough if wet and ends at some elevation above the river. The old crossing is no longer suitable for vehicles. Not much maintainence of the old construction roads had been done by doc; at least not up to last timr I visited. There are likely to be a fair number of hunters camped there. Not a great place for a child.
As others have suggested, kaimanawa rd.
Other area is clements, but crowded too.

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Originally Posted by Woody

Agree.
Tree trunk gorge is quite dangerous terrain but there is a walking track connecting to Kaimanawa road. I would not consider it a good place for a child unless under constant very close supervision.
The end of Waipakahi rd is pretty rough if wet and ends at some elevation above the river. The old crossing is no longer suitable for vehicles. Not much maintainence of the old construction roads had been done by doc; at least not up to last timr I visited. There are likely to be a fair number of hunters camped there. Not a great place for a child.
As others have suggested, kaimanawa rd.
Other area is clements, but crowded too.

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Doesn’t sound any good... Our sons pretty good to take out. Always by our side but it’s no good taking him out if the terrains that difficult. We are open to other areas if you have any suggestions? I looked at national park area but I always think of tourists everywhere and haven’t gone out there before so I don’t know of any good places to set up camp. We live near the kaimais if we have to we can always just head up there but it’s dense and full of blackberry and a little too close to home

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Originally Posted by Chelsea

Doesn’t sound any good... Our sons pretty good to take out. Always by our side but it’s no good taking him out if the terrains that difficult. We are open to other areas if you have any suggestions? I looked at national park area but I always think of tourists everywhere and haven’t gone out there before so I don’t know of any good places to set up camp. We live near the kaimais if we have to we can always just head up there but it’s dense and full of blackberry and a little too close to home

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Kaimanawa Rd has lots of easy and flat areas to hunt. Its about as good as you will get. You can drive to most of it. If you go to the start of the Urchin track, walk up the first sidle hill part of the track for 200 yards and then you can turn down hill and hunt down the main ridge. Its easy, but gets a but steeper as you go down. Or just stop at the first lay-by (or anywhere along there) after the turn off from Kaimanawa Rd to the Urchin (on the Urchin Rd) and hunt from there. Its dead flat and there's a huge area. Plenty of Sika.

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Originally Posted by Tahr

Kaimanawa Rd has lots of easy and flat areas to hunt. Its about as good as you will get. You can drive to most of it. If you go to the start of the Urchin track, walk up the first sidle hill part of the track for 200 yards and then you can turn down hill and hunt down the main ridge. Its easy, but gets a but steeper as you go down. Or just stop at the first lay-by (or anywhere along there) after the turn off from Kaimanawa Rd to the Urchin (on the Urchin Rd) and hunt from there. Its dead flat and there's a huge area. Plenty of Sika.

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Thanks, sounds like kaimanawa road is our best bet. I know they have plenty of camping spots up that road, fingers crossed it’s not too busy.

Neighbours son was up the river 2 weeks ago and bumped half a dozen 'halfway between tops and river', so as usual, find the fresh sign and go from there.

The old mill clearing on clements is a great place to take little ones,plenty of flat area to set up and play,small creek close by and lots of shade,long drops will be pretty rank by now though.easily accessed by 2wd and Likely to be other families there to socialise with.

Thanks all! We drove up and down a few of the roads but it’s pretty busy. Managed to find a great little spot up rangipo intake road.

@Chelsea.
PMd you.