10 October 2026
Cloudy, with the odd shower. Easterlies dying out this evening.
Loading outdoor place details…

Ruahine Forest Park
From Kumeti Road end in Eastern Ruahine Forest Park you can take tramping tracks to Opawe Rd and Kiritaki Hut.
Distance
13.63 km
Difficulty
Advanced
Dogs
Allowed — check local rules
Wheelchair access
Not marked friendly
Current status
No active alerts found. Conditions can still change, so check again before leaving.
Weather outlook
Issued 10 Oct 2026, 11:01 pm
10 October 2026
Cloudy, with the odd shower. Easterlies dying out this evening.
11 October 2026
Showers, possibly heavy, clearing to fine spells in the afternoon. Clouding over in the evening with drizzle on the ranges. Light winds, then afternoon westerlies.
12 October 2026
Mostly cloudy with isolated showers, clearing to fine in the morning. Westerlies developing for a time in the afternoon.
13 October 2026
Occasional rain, clearing for a time in the morning and afternoon. Northwesterlies developing in the morning.
14 October 2026
Partly cloudy with isolated showers. Northwesterlies.
Regional guidance only; elevation and terrain can produce different conditions.
Explore the area
Explore the track route and surrounding area before you set out.
Time : 5-6 hr Follow the Mangapuaka Stream upriver for 1.3 km to reach the start of the track, which is on the true right of the river. The river section is not a marked or maintained route. Note that it’s dangerous to cross or follow the river when the water level is high which can occur during or after heavy rain. Approximately 2 - 3 hours from the Kumeti Road End on the east to west crossing, the track heads south down a ridge to a stream. It then turns up steeply to Kiritaki Hut amongst a mass of leatherwood.
Time : 6-7 hr This track is recommended for experienced trampers. This day trip over the southern range passes through rimu and mountain forests and the largest, unbroken mass of leatherwood in New Zealand. There are no open tops and the track is well defined, although the area is exposed and it is often windy and cloudy. It ends at Opawe Road, Pohangina, which is a 69km/1 hr drive from where you started.
Kumeti Road is located 13 km from Dannevirke. Dannevirke is 85 km from Napier on State Highway 2. Head south from Dannevirke, turn right into Maharahara Road and take the next right in Kumeti Road. Use this location on Google Maps to help find your way there.
We encourage you to continue gaining the skills and knowledge required for a safe trip. The NZ Mountain Safety Council has lots of free resources and information you can use. These can be accessed via www.mountainsafety.org.nz . Level up in your outdoor knowledge with these interactive online learning tools: Trip Planning Tramping / field Skills Basic Navigation River Safety Additionally, check out the range of helpful videos available from the NZ Mountain Safety Council YouTube channel .
Dogs with a DOC permit for recreational hunting or management purposes only.
Track information, access and weather can change. Confirm current alerts and land-manager information close to departure, tell someone your plans, and carry equipment appropriate for the route and conditions.