St Paul's Rock Track

The track starts as a narrow dirt path beside a field, with St Paul’s Rock visible from the start. As you climb, you’ll pass a few stiles before the path steepens, with worn mud steps providing good footholds. At 450m, the incline increases, and the track narrows around the rock, and there are a couple of easy rocks you'll need to climb over. The views are stunning early on, so if you’re unsure about the final scramble, you’ll still see plenty. At 600m, you reach the chains, just after a short, potentially slippery rock section. The chained climb is brief and secure, with ample footholds. Beyond the chains, a short walk leads to the trig point. Sunset sets behind the island and marina, creating a beautiful scene. The summit is fully exposed, so bring an extra layer. The descent is steep in places, with the chains slightly trickier going down—backing down offers better stability. The rest of the track has footholds, with mud being the main challenge. We suggest shoes with good grip for this walk.

Head north on State Highway 10 to Kaeo. 4 km north of Kaeo, at the one-lane bridge, turn right and follow the river to the Whangaroa township. Turn right on to Old Hospital Road. You can access the track from the carpark at the end of Old Hospital 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 . We recommend trying these 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.