Henry Peak Via The Kaiauai Track

A tramp I haven't done for a few years is the Kaiauai track to Henry Peak. This a track I first did with my dad back in the 1970s when the Kaiauai hut still existed and the track up the ridge to Henry peak was a steep muddy washout channel. With the development of the Pouakai circuit the track has been vastly improved and its a good day tramp through some lush lowland bush and then up the ridge to Henry Peak where you get some great views of the mountain.

The track starts out from the Waiwhakaio carpark half way up the road to the North Egmont visitors centre. The first half of the track traverses across the lower slopes of Taranaki from the Waiwhakaio river to the Kaiauai river crossing several streams on the way. Once you cross the Kaiauai river theres a steep climb up to the ridge above the river to the Kaiauai shelter then the track ascends up the ridge above the Kaiauai river getting steeper and steeper as you climb out of the bush into the Hebes and tussock. The final pitch up into the tussock is up a long flight of wooden steps which have recently been repaired. (Last time I did this track about 4 years ago, many of the steps were broken and washed out.)

There's a spot about half way up the ridge where you get a great view of the mountain through the bush.

The view of Taranaki from approx half way up the ridge on the Kaiauai track - overlooking the Kaiauai river valley.

Once you get above the bush line you get some great views of Taranaki, Ahukawakawa (the swamp) and the rest of the Pouakai ranges. The DOC track time seem to be wildy inaccurate for this track stating 2.5 hrs to the Kaiauai shelter whereas it took me just over an hour to reach the shelter and about 2hrs 35 min to reach Henry peak.