The 6km Hihikiwi Track to Pahautea Hut May Be New Zealand’s Muddiest Hike

The hike to Pahautea Hut and Pirongia Summit along the Hihikiwi Track isn’t for the faint of heart, but the views along the way make it all worth it. From balancing on tree roots and rocks to avoiding shin-deep mud puddles, this trek will truly test your physical and mental endurance.

Quick Overview

The Hihikiwi Track is a 6.1km one-way track to the Pirongia Summit in Pirongia Forest Park in the Waikato region of New Zealand. Less than an hour’s drive south of Hamilton, the hike takes 4-6 hours to reach the summit. The Pahautea Hut, a 20-bunk hut with untreated water and non-flush toilets, greets hikers 30 minutes before the summit.

Hihikiwi Track Quick Facts

Distance: 6.1km one-way
Duration: 4-6 hours
Elevation gain: 916m
Nearest city: Hamilton

About Hihikiwi Track

Hiking the Hihikiwi Track, I was faced with a very muddy and rewarding challenge while immersed in rugged New Zealand wilderness. With dense forest and persistent rainfall, the trail rarely dries completely, and I was not the only one with dirty shoes by the end of the hike. The trail is covered in roots and rocks, which acted as solid places to step as I hopped over the deep pockets of mud.

As I made my way to the summit, I stopped along the way to appreciate the array of coastal plant life that lined the trails. While I was surrounded by forest for the majority of the hike, I also came across lookout points with spanning views of the rolling mountains blanketed in forest.

Read more: Remember to Leave No Trace

This trail can be done as a day hike, but I recommend staying a night at the Pahautea Hut that lies just below the summit. This trail’s part of the Te Araroa Trail, so the hut can book up quickly in the summer months.

Hihikiwi Track History

The Pirongia Forest Park was designated in 1971 and remains one of the largest forested areas in the Waikato region.

Pirongia Mountain, the tallest mountain in the park at 959m, was named ‘Pirongia te aroaro o Kahu’, meaning ‘the fragrant presence of Kahu’. The name was designated by a tohunga – a Maori priest or chosen expert – of the Tainui canoe and was in honour of his wife.

How to Get to Hihikiwi Track

The Hihikiwi Track starts on Pirongia West Road in Pirongia Forest Park, which is best accessed by car. A 4WD vehicle isn’t needed, but the roads do get windy and narrow. The last 7km of road is gravel.

From Hamilton, head south on State Highway 39 for about 40km. Turn right onto Ngutunui Road, travelling for about 3km, then another right onto Pekanui Road. Travel about 9km before turning right onto Pirongia W Road, which you’ll travel along for about 7km until you reach the trailhead. A small gravel car park is available on the left just before the trail.

Where to Stay Along Hihikiwi Track

Just before the summit, I came across the Pahautea Hut, a 20-bunk hut managed by the Department of Conservation (DOC). This hut offers non-flush toilets, a boot cleaning station, and non-potable water. Inside the hut, you’ll find a kitchen area, a common area with tables and benches, and two rooms with bunk beds and mattresses.

Following the muddy trek up, I was excited to relax on the covered porch that wraps around to the back of the hut, which offers a panoramic view of Pirongia Forest Park. When the clouds cleared, I could even see the fascinating volcanoes that make up Tongariro National Park. A booking is required to stay in the hut.

If you’re looking to fully immerse yourself in the wilderness, the Pahautea Hut campsite is also available for booking. There are seven tent pads, each measuring at 4x4m, and campers have access to the toilets and non-potable water at the hut.

Skill Level

Intermediate – Advanced

While this is a well-marked trail in Pirongia Forest Park, many of the sections are washed out and muddy. A lot of the trail requires root and rock hopping, testing the ground to see how deep the mud is, and using trees and branches to balance. Oftentimes, finding a safe path to cross can be cumbersome and requires patience.

The elevation gain is moderate. I was consistently gaining and losing elevation throughout the trek, starting with a steady climb up multiple sets of stairs. In the latter half of the trek, I found a few short, steep scrambling sections that required careful foot placement.

Intermediate hikers – or even beginner hikers looking for a good challenge – are able to complete this hike, but should expect to get dirty along the way. Extra socks, rain covers, and hiking poles will be your friends!

Mobile reception is often spotty and unreliable. Download any maps or guides before heading to the trailhead. Fortunately, the trail is consistently lined with orange triangle markers, so I found the path very easy to follow.

As for water sources, there’s an accessible stream at the trailhead that you can filter water from. There’s also non-potable water at the hut 30 minutes before the peak, which needs to be treated before consumption. The trail has very little exposure, so I was never at risk of overheating.

This hike isn’t wheelchair accessible and requires intermediate levels of endurance and agility.

Essential Gear for Hihikiwi Track

• Sleeping gear
• Waterproof hiking boots
• Gaiters (though, no promises the mud won’t go over them)
• Rain jacket
• Backpack rain cover
• Extra clothes (your first set is bound to get dirty)
• Water and water treatment gear
• Hiking poles (good for stability and testing for solid ground)
• First aid kit
• PLB

What It’s Like to Hike Hihikiwi Track

Day 1 – Hihikiwi Trailhead to Pahautea Hut

Distance: 5.4km
Duration: 5 hours
Navigation: AllTrails

This trek begins with about 1km of constructed stairs with approximately 200m of elevation. After that, the elevation gain is moderate, with forest coverage nearly the entire way to the hut. I came across a few lookout points along the way, which offer views of the park and a nice place for a snack break.

Wooden planks are sporadically placed throughout the hike, offering breaks from the mud. The last kilometre or so to the hut is entirely boardwalk, which is well-constructed and maintained. This boardwalk can be slippery when wet, so be careful if you’re hiking in the rain!

This hike will push you to your limits. At least, it did for me. From the very first mud sighting, I knew this trek would be more of a mental challenge than a physical one. Each step had to be carefully planned out, each rock and root had to be tested before putting my full weight on it, and it became a very slow, frustrating process – especially when I lost my balance and went shin-deep into the mud. This is why it took five hours to hike 5.4km.

But that’s not to say this hike wasn’t worth it. The dense rainforest that surrounded me was endlessly beautiful. There were plants coated in moss, a birdsong soundtrack, and the smell of fresh rain the entire way – it’s unlike any hike I’ve ever trekked.

Day 2 – Pahautea Hut to Pirongia Summit to Hihikiwi Trailhead

Distance: 6.6km
Duration: 5 hours
Navigation: AllTrails

While I could’ve reached the summit on the first day, the thought of sitting down and taking my shoes off at the hut was too appealing. Instead, I headed to the summit the next morning.

The path from the hut to the summit is an easy, 20-30 minute hike with minimal elevation. At the summit, I climbed the ladder of the lookout tower to get a true panoramic view of Pirongia Forest Park.

After that, it was time to make my way back to the trailhead. Since I’d already experienced the muddy terrain on the way up, I was better prepared to tackle it on the way down. The cold stream at the trailhead was a great place to rinse the mud off!

Tips for Hiking Hihikiwi Track

• Huts and campsites can book up quickly – Since this hike is along the Te Araroa Trail, it can get busy in summer. Make sure to book your hut stay or campsite in advance

• Bring hiking poles – Hiking poles can be used for more than just balance and stability. They can be useful ‘testing sticks’ to poke into the mud to see how deep it is or if it’s solid enough to walk on

Pahautea Hut FAQs

How do I get to Pahautea Hut?

The Hihikiwi Track starts on Pirongia West Road in Pirongia Forest Park, which is best accessed by car. A 4WD vehicle isn’t needed, but the roads do get windy and narrow. The last 7km of road is gravel.

What is the track to Pahautea Hut like?

There are a few possible tracks to reach Pahautea Hut: the 6.1km Hihikiwi Track, the 6.5km Tirohanga Track, and the 9km Mahaukura Track.

What should I pack for Pahautea Hut?

For an overnight hike to Pahautea Hut, don’t forget to pack a sleeping bag, cooking equipment, decent and waterproof hiking shoes, a rain jacket, gaiters, a first aid kit, your own water and a way to treat water, hiking poles, and a PLB.

What is the track to Pahautea Hut?

The walking track to Pahautea Hut is the Hihikiwi Track, a 6.1km each way track that also reaches Pirongia Summit.

Are dogs allowed at Pahautea Hut?

No dogs aren’t allowed at Pahautea Hut or the wider Pirongia Forest Park as it’s within Department of Conservation areas.