Holdsworth to Kaitoke

The track covers mostly typical Tararua beech and broadleaf forest the whole way. If you know your plants, look out for mistletoe around the Holdsworth track section. You dip into two major river valleys - the Waihohine and the Tauherenikau. Bird life can be abundant depending on the time of day and weather with whitehead, rifleman, bellbird, tui, woodpidgeon, shining and long tailed cuckoo relatively common. Kaka may also be seen (or heard).

There are several swing bridges along the route, and three huts (Totara Flats Hut, Cone Hut, and Tutuwai Hut). Cone Hut is the second oldest hut in the Tararuas (built in the 1940's) and one of the best surviving examples of a 'slab hut' in New Zealand.

The Holdsworth Road end car park is reasonably safe and is a popular and busy spot. The Kaitoke end is less safe and for a small fee you can overnight park your car at Kiwi Ranch where a trail take you up to the main track.

21 km

20 minutes

Unknown

No

Moderate.

Most of the track is a straight forward DOC track which is popular with trampers and therefore is well trodden, has plenty of orange triangles and sign posts. Just pay attention when heading over Cone Saddle in the Holdsworth-Kaitoke direction that the Cone Saddle Track can sometimes be slightly overgrown and easy to miss when crossing streams. Also at Cone Saddle the signage can be a bit ambiguous... make sure you're heading on the right track.

Non-existent.

Waterproof leggings, Thermal leggings, Short-sleeved thermal top, Long-sleeved thermal top, Seam-sealed waterproof jacket, Gloves, Beanie/thermal headwear, Personal Locator Beacon (PLB), Whistle, First aid kit, Extra food for emergencies, Survival bag, Cellphone, Compass, Map, Headtorch and spare batteries

Water is drinkable from all of the streams although it is recommended by DOC to treat the water (I would happily drink the water from any fast moving side stream I came across, of which there are plenty). The huts all have water tanks.

Parts of the track are always muddy no matter what time of the year. Plenty of water available and it is under tree cover most of the way.

This track is in the Tararuas which is notorious for foul weather. Be prepared for anything as even in the bush things can turn nasty even in the middle of summer. Check the weather for any significant rain (prior and expected) as this can cause any stream crossing to become impassable (of which there are many).