Aongatete
Getting there
Near the end of Wright Road, south of Katikati
Walking tracks start at the car park, on a short access road near the end of Wright Road south of Katikati. Towards the Aongatete Outdoor Education Centre there is a parking area on the access road and a toilet nearby.
About the walks
Located in the Kaimai Mamaku Conservation Park the walks at Aongatete take you through puriri and kohekohe forest along the Aongatete Stream.
One of the tracks provides access to the North South Track which runs along almost the whole length of the Kaimai Range. The other tracks provide walks through regenerating native forest and access to a popular swimming hole in a local stream.
Although there are no viewing points along the tracks they all provide a pleasant walk through the forest, with forest canopy covering almost the entire length of the tracks.
There are four tracks starting near the education centre, providing options from a very short nature walk to a longer loop walk. A 400m access track leads from the car park to the junction of the four tracks.
Nature Trail
15 minutes return, 640m
Nature Trail is a loop starting and ending near the education centre.
Aongatete Short Loop Track
1 hour return, 2.2km
This track shares the northern part of the Long Loop Track, with a connecting track between the two long loop tracks.
Aongatete Long Loop Track
3.5 hours return, 6.4km
This track runs mainly in a north-south orientation, with an eastern leg and a western leg. The eastern leg mainly has a gentle gradient with long straight stretches. It may once have been a tramline track. The western leg runs through more uneven terrain and includes three stream crossings. Even on a winter’s day after two days with rain these streams could be crossed without getting wet feet.
Aongatete Link Track to swimming holes
30 minutes one way, 475m
The Aongatete River may be accessed from this track, which starts on the western side of the lodge and might be slippery in damp conditions. A left branch off this track, about 15 minutes down, leads to some attractive swimming holes and is worth exploring.
Alternative route to the North South Track
The Aongatete Link Track reaches a junction with the North South Track about 1 hour from the lodge. From here, longer walks to Thompsons Track or Wairere Falls are possible.