Last updated October 2026
The Boyd, Ōamaru and Cascade Hut tracks link huts and road ends in Kaimanawa Forest Park east of Taupō, and DOC says you can combine them for a multi-night tramp through lush beech forest, with river crossings and wildlife.
Several huts and road ends let you tailor a trip, and DOC allows 2–4 days. DOC grades the tracks Advanced, and some sections are marked routes where a map and compass are essential. Clements Mill Road is reached from State Highway 5 east of Taupō. The park is about 40 km from Taupō.
Track Facts
Tracks can close at short notice for slips, storm damage or maintenance. Check DOC's current alerts for Boyd, Oamaru and Cascade Hut tracks on the day you walk.
Current alerts on DOCTrack facts and line: Crown Copyright, Department of Conservation Te Papa Atawhai 2026, CC BY 4.0. Elevation: LINZ (LiDAR), CC BY 4.0.
Practical Information
- Start
- Clements Mill Road car park or Taharua Road end, off State Highway 5 east of Taupō
- Distance from the city
- about 40 km from Taupō
- Walking time
- 2–4 days, depending on the route
- Grade
- Advanced
- Dogs
- Dogs with DOC permit (hunting)
- Track type
- Tramping track, Route
- Huts
- Ōamaru Hut and Cascade Hut (DOC huts), with Boyd Hut behind the Boyd airstrip
- Managed by
- Department of Conservation
- Status
- Open when checked on 18 October 2026. Check DOC before you go.
About the Boyd, Ōamaru and Cascade Hut Tracks
These tracks are a network rather than a single route, so you can build the trip around your time and experience. DOC highlights the lush beech forest, river crossings and wildlife, and notes excellent trout fishing in the Taharua, Ōamaru and Kaipō streams.
One starting point is the car park 5 km along Clements Mill Road, with Ōamaru Hut as a first night’s stop. From there you can push on to Boyd Hut, loop back via Cascade Hut and the Hinemaiaia Track, or come in from the Taharua Road end through Poronui Station.
DOC calls the Maungaorangi route from Boyd Hut strenuous, and warns that the upper Kaipō River section is time-consuming.
Track Sections
DOC lists these sections, with times and distances:
- Clements Mill Road to Ōamaru Hut via Te Iringa: 6–8 hr, 19 km. Climbs to the clearing where Te Iringa Hut used to stand, skirts Mt Te Iringa (1241 m), then follows the true right of the Kaipō River to Ōamaru Hut. Mountain bikes are also permitted on this track.
- Taharua Road to Ōamaru Hut: 4 hr, 12 km. A poled route through Poronui Station, then a newer track via a crossing of the Kaipō River.
- Ōamaru Hut to Boyd Hut: 4–6 hr, 16 km. Follows the Ōamaru River and the Waitawhero Stream over a saddle to the upper Ngaruroro, where Boyd Hut sits behind the Boyd airstrip.
- Boyd Hut to Cascade Hut via Maungaorangi: 10–12 hr, 22 km. A strenuous route up a long, steep ridge and across poled tops, then down to Te Waiotupuritia Saddle and Cascade Hut. A map and compass are essential and GPS is recommended.
- Te Iringa / Ōamaru Hut Track to Cascade Hut (Upper Kaipō Valley Route): 6–9 hr, 13 km. A marked route with numerous river crossings and log jams.
- Cascade Hut to Clements Mill Road (Hinemaiaia Track): 4–5 hr, 12 km. Follows the open river flats of the Tauranga-Taupō River, then climbs a beech-covered ridge and descends along the Hinemaiaia Stream.
Rules, Safety and Preparation
DOC notes Te Iringa Hut has burnt down and will not be replaced, though it may still appear on older maps.
Access through Poronui Station on the Taharua route comes with strict conditions: no hunting at all, no mountain bikes, and hunters must take the bolts out of their rifles. Fishing is allowed, with marked side tracks to the Taharua River.
DOC’s Kaimanawa Forest Park page warns that rivers can rise rapidly during and after heavy rain. Carry a map and compass, warm and waterproof gear, and a distress beacon. Read DOC’s Kaimanawa Forest Park know before you go information, check DOC before you go, tell someone your plans, and use Plan My Walk to prepare.
When we checked on 18 October 2026, DOC had an alert for the Kaimanawa Forest Park area: the NZ Game Animal Council and Sika Foundation were undertaking deer management operations “on the true left of the Waipakihi River and in the Kaimanawa Remote Experience Zone (REZ) between 20 October and 6 December 2026”.
DOC listed the alert for tracks in the Waipakihi area rather than these tracks, so check with DOC whether the operation area overlaps your route.
Getting There
Leave State Highway 5 (Napier Taupō Road) about 27 km east of Taupō with a right turn onto Taharua Road. After 9.5 km, turn right into Clements Mill Road, which runs for 21 km to its end. DOC says Clements Mill Road is suitable for small caravans only, and access can be affected by fallen trees in high winds.
The park can also be reached by air: there is one airstrip and several helipads, and a permit is required to land at Boyd Airstrip and designated helicopter landing sites.
Where to Learn More
Department of Conservation: Boyd, Ōamaru and Cascade Hut tracks: track information, alerts and status. Track information: Crown Copyright: Department of Conservation Te Papa Atawhai 2026. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
Department of Conservation: Kaimanawa Forest Park: huts, hunting information, aircraft access and alerts for the park.
Plan My Walk: plan your trip, check the weather and track alerts, and share your plans with someone you trust.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a trip on these tracks take?
DOC suggests 2–4 days, depending on which huts and road ends you combine.
How hard are the tracks?
They are graded Advanced, with some marked routes, river crossings and log jams. The Maungaorangi route needs a map and compass.
Where do the tracks start?
Trips can start from the car park on Clements Mill Road, reached via Taharua Road off State Highway 5. The Taharua Road end is another start point.
Which huts are on the tracks?
Ōamaru Hut and Cascade Hut are DOC huts on the network, and Boyd Hut sits behind the Boyd airstrip. Te Iringa Hut has burnt down and will not be replaced.
Can I hunt or mountain bike?
Mountain bikes are permitted on the Te Iringa track. On the Taharua route through Poronui Station, there is no hunting and no biking, and hunters must remove rifle bolts.
Are dogs allowed?
Only with a DOC permit, for hunting.
Is there good fishing?
DOC says there is excellent trout fishing in the Taharua stream and in the Ōamaru and Kaipō streams near Ōamaru Hut.
Are the tracks open?
When we checked on 18 October 2026, DOC had no current alerts for these tracks. Check the DOC page for current alerts before you go.
Spotted something incorrect on this page? Let us know.