
Dome Forest car park to Govan Wilson Rd, Matakana
Alerts
Check the DOC website for current alerts and conditions before you go. This site gets current alert info from DOC, but is not an official source of information.
A challenging longer walk (7 hrs) through regenerating native forest, the track starts at the Dome carpark and ends at Govan Wilson Rd, Matakana. This track is part of Te Araroa Trail.
Elevation
Cover mapped summer 2023/24.
Description
This track is part of Te Araroa Trail.
The track begins at the Dome carpark, and takes you first to the lookout and Dome summit.
The track continues along the ridgeline through attractive forest with glimpses of the surrounding countryside and coast then descends through pines to a 4WD clay road. Turn left down the road to meet Waiwhiu Valley Rd (a private forest road). Here you turn right and take the road for 200 m to a sign pointing left to the Waiwhiu Stream crossing.
Once over the stream, follow the bush track along the river to the right for 1.6 km to reach the Totara Peak Scenic Reserve. The track here climbs steeply up to a ridge with enjoyable views. At the junction of Conical Peak Rd (clay 4WD track), turn right and follow this road northwards until it meets Govan Wilson Rd.
Note: The track to Totara Peak Scenic Reserve crosses private land in the Waiwhiu Valley so please keep to the track or forest road.
Getting there
The walk starts from the Dome Forest Walkway carpark, by the Dome tearooms, 7 km north of Warkworth on SH 1, 74 km north of Auckland.
Know before you go
The Waiwhiu Stream may be unsafe to cross after heavy rain.
A toilet is available along the section of Te Araroa from Govan Wilson Road to Dome Café just after the Waiwhiu Stream crossing. It is positioned between the crossing and the Waiwhiu Road.
Weather
Forecast at the start of the track