Last updated October 2026
Te Arapiki o Tawhaki is a 4 km loop through lowland podocarp forest at Pūkaha/Mount Bruce in the northern Wairarapa, about 42 km from Palmerston North. The only way onto the track is through the Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre on State Highway 2, and DOC notes that an entry fee is required.
DOC times the loop at 2 hours and grades it as an easy to intermediate walking track, with native bush and views along the way.
The visitor centre is open daily from 9.00 am to 4.30 pm and is closed on Christmas Day, so plan your walk around those hours. When we checked on 18 October 2026, DOC had no alerts for the track, but check DOC before you go.
Track Facts
Tracks can close at short notice for slips, storm damage or maintenance. Check DOC's current alerts for Te Arapiki o Tawhaki 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
- Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre, State Highway 2 (access only through the centre)
- Distance from the city
- About 42 km from Palmerston North
- Walking time
- 2 hr loop
- Track length
- 4 km loop
- Grade
- Easy (DOC: easy to intermediate walking track)
- Dogs
- No dogs
- Entry
- Entry fee required at the wildlife centre
- Opening hours
- Visitor centre open daily 9.00 am to 4.30 pm, closed Christmas Day
- Managed by
- Department of Conservation
- Status
- Open when checked on 18 October 2026. Check DOC before you go.
About Te Arapiki o Tawhaki
This loop takes you into the lowland podocarp forest of Pūkaha/Mount Bruce. DOC sums the walk up as a chance to experience “stunning views and native bush”, and the loop format means you finish back where you started without retracing your steps.
Because the track sits inside the Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre grounds, you reach it through the centre rather than from a roadside car park. That makes it an easy add-on to a visit to the centre, and it also means the walk is only available during the centre’s opening hours.
At 2 hours and graded easy to intermediate, it suits most walkers who are comfortable with a couple of hours on a bush track. It’s a good choice if you want a proper forest walk rather than a short stroll, without the commitment of a full tramp.
Getting There and Entry
The Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre is on State Highway 2, which DOC places 30 km north of Masterton and 10 km south of Eketahuna. DOC puts the trip at about 1 hour from Palmerston North and about 2 hours from Wellington by car.
You’ll need to pay the entry fee at the centre to reach the track. Dogs are not allowed, and the usual rules for other pets on conservation land apply.
Where to Learn More
Department of Conservation: Te Arapiki o Tawhaki: 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: Pūkaha Mount Bruce Wildlife Centre: the wider place, its other walks and any alerts for the area.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does Te Arapiki o Tawhaki take?
DOC times the 4 km loop at about 2 hours.
Do I have to pay to walk the track?
Yes. DOC says access is only through the Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre, and an entry fee is required.
When can I walk it?
The visitor centre is open daily from 9.00 am to 4.30 pm and is closed on Christmas Day, so plan to walk within those hours.
How hard is the walk?
DOC grades it as an easy to intermediate walking track. It suits most walkers with a reasonable level of fitness.
Are dogs allowed?
No. Dogs are not allowed on this track.
Where is it?
At Pūkaha on State Highway 2, 30 km north of Masterton and 10 km south of Eketahuna. It is about 42 km from Palmerston North in a straight line, and DOC puts the drive at about 1 hour.
Is this the same as Te Arapiki a Tāne?
No. Te Arapiki o Tawhaki is a different walk: a forest loop at Pūkaha/Mount Bruce, reached only through the Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre.
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