10 October 2026
Partly cloudy. Easterlies, dying out in the evening.
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Walking track
Ruahine Forest Park
Walk 10 minutes to Triple X Hut and carry on for a one hour circuit around Swamp Track.
Distance
3.3 km
Walking time
1 hr
Difficulty
Easy
Dogs
Not allowed
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, 4:55 pm
10 October 2026
Partly cloudy. Easterlies, dying out in the evening.
11 October 2026
Mainly fine, with areas of early morning fog. Showers developing in the afternoon, possibly heavy with thunderstorms and hail, clearing in the evening. Northwesterlies developing for a time in the morning and afternoon.
12 October 2026
Fine, then a few showers developing about the ranges in the afternoon. Northeasterlies developing for a time in the afternoon.
13 October 2026
Mainly fine, but isolated showers in the afternoon. Northwesterlies developing in the morning.
14 October 2026
Fine, but becoming cloudy in the evening. 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.
This easy loop track starts along a farm track for 10 minutes to reach Triplex Hut . Then roughly 100 metres before reaching the hut you'll come to a junction with Swamp Track on the left, Triplex Hut on the right, while Sunrise Track continues on ahead. To complete the Swamp Track loop, either take the left-hand turn or walk another 250 metres to the second junction with Sunrise Track and turn left. Swamp Track meanders through a mix of beech, rimu and kahikatea forest, providing a great opportunity to bathe in nature. The full loop is 1.9km, with a short junction which connects to a track down to the Waipawa River at the southern-most end after 800m.
Triplex Hut is a 12 bunk hut with grassy surrounds and additional space for camping. It makes for an ideal base for groups wishing to experience an overnight stay close to a road end.
The North Block Road end is the most popular starting point for visitors to the Eastern Ruahine. North Block Road is approximately 100 km from Napier. Follow State Highway 50 for 66 km and turn right into Wakarara Road. After 20 km, turn left into North Block Road. The start of Sunrise Tracks starts at the road end. The last 4 km of this road is through private farmland. Dogs are not permitted. Please don’t disturb stock and leave gates as you found them. Use this location in Google Maps to find your way ther e.
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 .
No dogs.
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.