Wades Landing Outdoors - Tramping Charter

The Matemateaonga Track along with the Mangapurua Track is one of the two major tramping opportunities available in the Whanganui National Park. Using an old Maori trail and settlers' dray road, you are able to penetrate deep into the wilderness of the park. The track traverses an expanse of thick bush clad hill country between Taranaki and the Whanganui River. The walk follows the original Whakaihuwaka Road built in 1911 to create a more direct link between Stratford and Raetihi and the main trunk Railway. A Pilot track was first cut along the range. This track was to be widened to a more substantial road, but with the outbreak of World War 1, the work was abandoned. The original Whakaihuwaka Road was hewn from papa and remains reasonably intact. The 42km track is usually tramped in three to four days. Transport by jet boat must be arranged either to pick up or drop off your party at the river end of the track.

The three huts on the Matemateaonga Track are of the "Serviced Hut" category and require two hut tickets ($10 adults, $5 youth) a night. There are slots for the deposit of tickets in the store cupboard door which is located opposite the main entrance to each hut. Annual hut passes can also be used. Trampers should carry a gas cooker. There are wood burning stoves at the huts which are designed for heating but not cooking. All wood must be flown to the huts and so is

expensive to provide.

Water at these huts is from the roof and users may for their own protection, wish to boil or treat it. Hunting is permitted in most of the national park throughout the year but no hunting is permitted within 200 metres of tracks, between the 20th of December and the 20th of February, or at Easter weekend. Permits are issued by DOC Whanganui, Stratford or New Plymouth.

Track entrance Mangaehu Road (Kohi Saddle entrance)

The track is reached from SH43 at Strathmore, east of Stratford, where the signpost indicates the road to Upper Mangaehu Road. The track entrance at Kohi Saddle is 20 minutes away. There are kilometre posts along the track from Kohi Saddle to Puketotara Hut. They do not continue down to the Whanganui River.

Kohi Saddle to Omaru Hut (8 bunks) Time: 1.5 hours

The track begins at Kohi Saddle in regenerating bush but reaches thick bush as the track ascends a spur to the crest of the Matemateaonga Range.

Omaru Hut to Pouri Hut (12 bunks) Time: 5 hours

The track continues along the top of the Matemateaonga Range, initially through dense bush on the south western side of the range and then crossing to the northern flank. On a clear day there are occasional glimpses of the volcanoes of Tongariro National Park.

About 3.5 hours from Omaru Hut, a signposted track branches off the main track to the summit of Mt Humphries (732m). It is known by Maori as Whakaihuwaka - "made like the prow of a canoe". The name refers to the skyline shape of Mt Humphries and the Matemateaonga Range. This side trip of 1.5 hours return offers a sweeping view of three national parks - Whanganui, Egmont and Tongariro.

Back on the main track, Humphries' Clearing is a further 30 minutes' walk. Just past the clearing you pass the junction with the Puteore Route which leads south into the Waitotara Conservation Area.( Note: The connecting routes are for experienced trampers only. They are only lightly marked and the path may be obscured by vegetation.) Pouri Hut is 45 minutes, further along the main track.

Other Section Walks

Pouri Hut to Puketotara Hut (8 bunks) Time: 8 hours.. more info
Puketotara Hut to Whanganui River Time: 1 hour.. more info

Overnight Opportunities

Kohi Saddle - Mt Humphries - Omaru Hut - Kohi Saddle.. more info
Pipiriki - Bridge to Nowhere - Puketotara Hut - Pipiriki.. more info

Day Walk Opportunities

Kohi Saddle - Omaru Hut - 3 hours return.. more info
Puniwhakau Road - "The Letter Boxes" - Puniwhakau Link Track - Kohi Saddle - 8 hours.. more info

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