"Went up with 2 adults and 4 kids aged 8-11 up the Mahaukura track (est4-6hrs) took us all of 9hrs as it is a challenging track and we were in no rush with plenty of stops for snacks along the way. We tented as the hut was fully booked and so were the tent sites in the end so a busy time of year. Weather was cool but sunny for the walk up and overcast and mild on the way down, the tents were tucked away under the bush so it was quite warm considering the overnight was forecasted to be 7C. Great walk if you like a challenge but could be done a lot quicker." — loganscott • Apr 24, 2025

"Went up via Corcoran Road entrance, up to Ruapane summit/Tirohanga track and across to the Pahuatea hut. Once at the hut we trekked to the Cone and back-it was very muddy. We left the hut the next morning via the Tahuanui track to the Kaniwhaniwha carpark. This was a fun walk for the two 10yr old boys and their Dads, the hike was well within their capabilities." — loganscott • Apr 24, 2023

"Took about 15mins from the pahautea hut which we climbed to via hihikiwi track. You know your high up when you look down from the viewing platform and kakapuku looks tiny, quite windy at the top also being so exposed." — loganscott • Jan 31, 2022

"We walked up via the northern entrance on Hicks Road, the Te Raki track was a little over grown but a fun walk for the kids, it took about 2 hours up. We came back down via Wairere Traverse which took about 1.5hours." — loganscott • Jan 6, 2022

"Climbed Maungatautari following the Wairere traverse/graded track up to Pukeatua peak as we had previously done the Te Tonga/rough tramping track to zPukeautua summit as we wanted to get a head start to Maungatautari peak. From Pukeatua summit we head off on the Te tonga track to Maungatuatari peak, it was abnormally disorientating as I felt it was going much further east then the maps suggested and took longer then I expected, but I hadn't taken into account the up and down distance when looking at the map and wasn't using any navigation gear. We took our time as I was accompanied by two 7yr olds who enjoyed snack time, it took 5hours to the Maungatautari summit. We walked past the summit on the Te tonga track (its labelled as the Hicks rd over the mountain track until we meet the up with the Wairere traverse or quad bike track and headed back to the southern entrance this took 3 hours. Maungatuatari and Pukeatua offered didn't offer heaps of views of the Waikato but the bird life is abundant and it was perfect conditions under the thick forest canopy, shady and with a warm breeze. Also worth noting there is no streams on the Te tonga track so take plenty of water, but on the ..." — loganscott • Jan 17, 2021