Matauria Ridge Track Napier: Kaweka Ridge Tramp from Makahu Saddle to the Mackintosh Plateau

Last updated November 2026

The Matauria Ridge Track (Makahu Saddle to Mackintosh Track Junction) links the Makahu Saddle carpark with the track network on the Mackintosh Plateau in Kaweka Forest Park, about 47 km from Napier. DOC gives its length as 5.07 km and grades it as an advanced tramping track, but doesn’t publish a walking time.

The highlight is the wide, open Matauria Ridge, with views into the beech-forested Donald catchment and across to the main Kaweka Range.

Further on, the track drops steeply to an unbridged crossing of the Donald River, where DOC warns that cyclone damage has changed the entry and exit points. Check DOC before you go, use Plan My Walk and tell someone your plans.

Track Facts

Practical Information

Start

Makahu Saddle carpark, Kaweka Road

Finish

Junction with the Lakes carpark to Mackintosh carpark track, not far from Mackintosh Hut

Distance from the city

About 47 km from Napier

Track length

5.07 km one way

Grade

Advanced (DOC: advanced tramping track)

Dogs

Dogs with a DOC permit for recreational hunting or management purposes only

Huts

Mackintosh Hut (DOC hut) is close to the finishing junction

Managed by

Department of Conservation

Status

Open when checked on 18 October 2026. Check DOC before you go.

Track markers

On marked bush tracks, DOC and most councils use orange triangles for the walking route. Triangles or tape in other colours, usually pink or blue, mark pest-control lines and traps. They can lead off the track, so don’t follow them.

About Matauria Ridge Track

This is a connecting track rather than a destination in itself. It joins the Makahu Saddle road end on Kaweka Road to the Mackintosh Plateau, opening up routes towards Mackintosh Hut and the tracks beyond.

A track runs from the Makahu Saddle carpark to Ngahere Base, once a hydrological survey base, and then drops down an old road to a stream. Across the bridge the track splits: the Ngahere Loop Track climbs straight ahead, while the Matauria Ridge Track turns right.

The ridge is the best part. It is wide and open, and DOC highlights views into the beech forest of the Donald catchment, back to Makahu Saddle and across to the main Kaweka Range.

From the ridge the track descends steeply into the Donald River valley, crosses the river and climbs the other side to the plateau. It ends at a junction with the track that runs from the Lakes carpark to the Mackintosh carpark, a short distance from Mackintosh Hut.

Because DOC gives no time for the track, allow generous daylight and plan your whole trip, including where you will stay or exit, before you leave the car park.

Crossing the Donald River

There is no bridge over the Donald River on this track, so assess the crossing carefully before you commit. DOC notes that cyclone damage has changed where you enter and leave the river, so take care choosing your exit point.

Don’t cross if the river is flooded, if you can’t find good entry and exit points, or if you’re unsure. Turn back or wait for the river to drop. If in doubt, stay out. DOC points to NIWA river flow forecasts as a planning aid.

Getting There and Access

DOC puts Kaweka Road 65 km north-west of Napier. From Napier, follow Puketitiri Road for 36 km, then turn left into Whittle Road; Kaweka Road is the first road on the right.

Whittle Road passes partly through farmland to the park entrance, so leave all gates as you find them, and watch for quarry trucks, giving them right of way where possible. The road may be closed at times because of snow and ice.

DOC recommends 4WD vehicles on the park’s access roads. If you plan to finish at a different road end, note that when we checked on 18 October 2026, DOC’s access conditions said Mackintosh car park was closed for forestry operations, with parking at a skid site near the closed gate at the end of Kuripapango Road that adds about 500 m of walking. Castle Rock Road was also listed as closed.

Mountain Weather and Track Conditions

This is rough, muddy backcountry track that becomes slippery after rain, best suited to experienced trampers with backcountry skills and sturdy boots. Expect sudden weather changes, whiteouts, high winds on the ranges and fast-rising rivers.

Carry an emergency shelter, spare food and a distress beacon, and be ready for weather delays. The park is a restricted fire area, with permits needed to light fires all year.

Where to Learn More

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is the Matauria Ridge Track?

DOC gives the length as 5.07 km. It does not publish a walking time, so plan conservatively.

Where does it start and finish?

It starts at the Makahu Saddle carpark on Kaweka Road and finishes at a junction on the Mackintosh Plateau, not far from Mackintosh Hut.

Is there a bridge over the Donald River?

No. You have to ford it, and DOC says cyclone damage has changed the entry and exit points. If in doubt, stay out.

What are the views like?

From the open Matauria Ridge, DOC highlights views into the beech-forested Donald catchment, back to Makahu Saddle and across to the main Kaweka Range.

How hard is it?

DOC grades it as an advanced tramping track. It includes a steep descent, an unbridged river crossing and a climb to the plateau.

Are dogs allowed?

Only with a DOC permit for recreational hunting or management purposes.

Is the access road open in winter?

DOC says the road may be closed at times because of snow and ice. Check DOC before you go.

Spotted something incorrect on this page? Let us know.

Sources and data notes 1

• Track Facts: Track facts and line: Crown Copyright, Department of Conservation Te Papa Atawhai 2026, CC BY 4.0. Elevation: LINZ (LiDAR), CC BY 4.0.