- Easy 1.4km loop through native kahikatea, tawa and pukatea forest at White Pine Bush, about 30 minutes return
- Lightly sealed track built for wheelchairs, though the surface is a little uneven in spots, check current track conditions before you go
- Nikau palms, native birdsong and a creekside picnic table to finish on
- Dogs are not allowed in White Pine Bush Scenic Reserve
Quick facts
Getting to White Pine Bush
White Pine Bush is north of Napier on State Highway 2, on the road to Wairoa and Gisborne. You’ll pass Napier Airport around the 5km mark, then keep straight ahead at the Lake Tutira turn off around 12.5km rather than turning left. The road winds up through Tangoio Forest from about the 24km mark, a narrow section where it pays to keep an eye on the mirror for trucks behind you.
There’s ongoing roadwork on this stretch of SH2 between Napier and Wairoa, including pre-seal repairs, resealing and bridge inspections near White Pine Bush. Check the current road conditions before you head off and allow a bit of extra time for the drive.
You’ll cross a concrete bridge around the 26km mark, then the road flattens out. The turn off to the reserve comes up quickly around 27km on a long flat stretch with a climb at the end, so indicate early. There’s no room to pull over before the turn, so let traffic behind you know what you’re doing. The car park is gravel and a little uneven but holds around 30 cars, with a notice board across from the shelter.
The walk
I did this loop in a clockwise direction, which puts the gentle climb at the start and leaves the second half downhill on the way back to the car. From the car park the track is sealed and easy underfoot, heading into the bush past the notice board.
Fair warning on the stinging nettle. Don’t touch it, and definitely don’t brush past it in shorts in summer when it’s young and at its most potent. There are two bridges to cross on this walk, the first one early on, where the track curves off to the left and is easy to follow from there.
The nikau palms are up near the top of the loop, and this is the part that really slows you down. Walking under them feels like stepping back a few thousand years, the kind of spot where you half expect something prehistoric to be watching from behind a trunk.
The second bridge brings you to a table and chairs, a genuinely good spot to sit and listen to the birds for a while. It’s an easy walk in with a picnic lunch, and a far better lunch spot than the car park, no trucks grinding up the hill past you. From there it’s a slight downhill run back to the car.
What you’ll see at White Pine Bush
The reserve protects a good stand of kahikatea, tawa and pukatea, with nikau palms in abundance further along the track. Vines, shrubs and ferns crowd the shaded sections. Listen for tui, wood pigeon, fantail, bellbird, silvereye and grey warbler as you go, they’re all regulars here.
Who it’s for
This is a good one for families, older walkers, and anyone after an easy loop with wheelchair access. It suits people who want native bush without a big climb or rough ground, and it’s an easy add on if you’re already driving SH2 between Napier and Wairoa.
When to go
The bush walk works any time of year. Spring and early summer bring the most bird activity, but that’s also when the stinging nettle is young and at its worst, so give it a wide berth. There’s no mobile coverage out here, so let someone know your plans before you head off.
Important stuff
- Dogs are not allowed in White Pine Bush Scenic Reserve
- Stinging nettle grows along parts of the track, avoid brushing against it, especially in summer
- No mobile coverage in the reserve
- The sealed track surface is a little uneven and crumbling in places, check current track conditions before you go
- There’s ongoing roadwork on SH2 between Napier and Wairoa, check current road conditions and allow extra time
Common questions
Can you take dogs to White Pine Bush Reserve Walkway?
No. Dogs are not allowed in White Pine Bush Scenic Reserve.
Is there a toilet at White Pine Bush?
Yes, there’s a composting toilet near the start of the loop. It’s wheelchair accessible, though the gravel car park itself is a little uneven.
How long does the White Pine Bush walk take?
About 30 minutes for the full 1.4km round trip loop.
Is White Pine Bush Reserve Walkway wheelchair accessible?
Yes, the track was built for wheelchair use and is lightly sealed, though the surface can be uneven in spots, so check current track conditions before you go.
My honest take
I liked this one more than I expected to for something so short. The nikau palms near the top are the highlight, proper old growth that makes 1.4km feel longer than it is. The picnic table over the second bridge is worth timing your walk around, it’s quiet, shaded and the birdsong does the rest. Just watch the nettle, and give yourself extra time on the drive up if there’s roadwork happening on SH2.
