Enjoying Tamahunga

Three public tracks traverse the area, all culminating at the summit. You will be walking through regenerating bush, including large Pūriri, Tānekaha, Taraire, Karaka, Nīkau, Climbing Rātā, Supplejack, and Ponga. There are Astelia, epiphytes and tree orchids hanging above you, and at ground level orchids and fungi. On the track from Omaha Valley Road, there are tree identification plates alongside the track, describing many of the trees present, and enabling you to catch your breath on the walk up. Listen out for pīwakawaka (fantail), miromiro (tomtit), tui, and the tiny riroriro (grey warbler) singing their distinctive songs; the beat of kererū wings; and the screech of the kākā. You will also notice traps set to catch stoats beside the track – please do not touch or interfere with these, as they are here to protect forest bird life.
Please respect the private land. There is a strict NO DOG policy across both the farmland and in the forest. Neither dogs, firearms or hunting are permitted on the maunga.
The three public tracks are:
  • The Te Araroa Trail, from Cape Reinga to Bluff, traverses the maunga from Bathgate Rd (Pakiri), with a link joining from the western end of Rodney Road, to the hill top on Matakana Valley Rd, via the summit and known as “Te Hikoi O Te Kiri”, after a Pakiri Chieftainess.
  • The section of track from Rodney Road to the summit is an unformed road, administered by Auckland Council, while the section linking to the Matakana Hill crosses private land and small sections of Council land.
  • However the most popular walking track is from the Omaha Valley Road car park to the summit, which takes between 45mins to 1.5hrs, depending on your walking pace. This track initially crosses private farm land before entering the forest and is a steep climb though mature forest to the saddle and is administered by the Deptarment of Conservation. The summit is a further 5 minute walk to the east, with views over the Whangateau harbour and Takatu Peninsula.

Mt Tamahunga Walkway

From Omaha Valley Road, tramp up to the summit of Mt Tamahunga (indicated in pink on the map). For more information on this track, access and parking, please visit the Mt Tamahunga Walkway page on the Department of Conservation website.
Mt Tamahunga Walkway

Te Araroa - New Zealand's Trail

The Te Araroa Trail traverses the maunga from Bathgate Rd (Pakiri) to the hill top on Matakana Valley Rd (indicated in blue on the map). The Mt Tamahunga walkway joins the Te Araroa - The Long Pathway just before the summit. For more information on this section of the Te Araroa Trail please visit the Te Araroa website.
Te Araroa Trail
Map from DOC website, Mt Tamahunga walkway.
View from Mt Tamahunga track, over Omaha Bay. Photo by N. Wilson.
If you are seeking views over the surrounding area, the track between Rodney Road and the summit provides better lookout opportunities, as tall trees limit views from the forested ridges, however, several view corridors are present along the track. The tracks are all tramping tracks, so are muddy and slippery in winter conditions.