West Egmont tramping tracks

A nice side trip is the 1 hr trip (1 way) to the Brames Falls lookout. A 30m high ladder leads down to the bottom of the gorge to cross the Waiaua River. This river is wide and prone to flooding.

Getting there: Access via Ihaia Road, Ōpunake.

Kahui Track to Kahui Hut

Time:  2:30 hours to the hut

Distance: 5.9 km

There is limited car parking at the end of the road.

The Kahui track was once an old road ascending the western slopes of the mountain to Kahui Hut, the oldest hut in the park.

The Kahui holes can be found off to the side of this track. Very little is known about these holes that are circular and up to 7m deep, although some suggest local Māori used them to store bones.

Getting there: Access is via Kahui Road, off  SH45 at Rahotu.

Puniho Track to Kahui Hut

Time: 3 hours to the hut

Distance: 7 km

This track is a good entrance point for the Stony River, joining with the Stony River track to Bells Falls. It also connects with the Lower Around the Mountain Circuit.

A good full-day trip (8 hour return) is the Puniho Track to Stony River and on to Bells Falls.

The track walks along the true left of the river. Look carefully for track markers and be prepared to get wet feet when crossing tributary streams. Be aware this is a large river that is prone to flash flooding.

Getting there: Access is from Puniho Road, via Wiremu Road, Okato.