Waingongoro Hut Walk
This is the first hiking video that we have posted so it could be considered a little rough but we will be posting more in the future so please stay tuned.
The day we walked the Waingongoro Hut Walk was Labour Weekend, October 2018, it was a fine day with a lot of people walking some of the many different tracks available. We walked this one because it was supposed to be a three hour round trip, we wanted to see two parts of the track, that being the hut and the suspension bridge which are both in the below video.
We hope you enjoy the video and that it gives you an idea of what parts of this track are like if you decide to walk them, I recommend visiting the mountain and having a walk. Below are some tips about getting to the mountain, as well as some safety tips as well as a map – enjoy!
At the bottom of this post are some stills of the morning as well.
Waingongoro Hut is a good overnight tramp for families with children and new trampers – walk through goblin forest, stop for a swim in lava-formed pools, and cross the highest swing bridge in Egmont National Park.
Waingongoro Hut from Dawson Falls
Time: 1 hr 30 min
Distance: 2.3 km
Follow the Wilkies Pool Loop Track from just above the visitor centre, rock hopping across the Kapuni Stream. Join the Ridge Track and climb uphill to meet the Waingongoro Track. Follow this downhill, past the 24 m high Waingongoro swing bridge, to the hut. Return the same way or via Wilkies Pools.
Kapuni Stream is usually shallow but after heavy rain can become unpassable. Alternate access is via a bridge lower down Kapuni Stream. From the visitor centre walk 50 m down Manaia Road to the Kapuni Loop Track entrance. Follow signs to the Ridge Track, crossing the bridge before climbing uphill to reach Waingongoro Track, leading down to the hut.
Getting there
Dawson Falls – In Stratford, turn off SH23 into Celia Street, which becomes Opunake Road. Follow this for 14 km, then turn right into Manaia Road and travel 9 km up the mountain to Dawson Falls visitor centre.
Know before you go
Weather on the mountain changes rapidly – you must be well prepared with suitable clothing and equipment for all weather and conditions.
Snow, high rainfall and storm damage can make tracks impassable – many rivers and streams are unbridged.
Check the Egmont National Park weather forecast (external site) before you go.
Dawson Falls Visitor Centre is open reduced hours: Thursday – Sunday 9am – 4pm; 7 days a week during school holidays, 9am – 4pm.
Below are some stills from the day.
This is South Taranaki 
Leave a comment