This place is where the Last Samurai movie was filmed in NZ.

Unfortunately there isn’t much left to see of the set. If you look really hard you might see some of the buildings used in the filming of the Last Samurai.

Quick Facts about this walk

  • Location: North Island NZ
  • Distance: 58 km
  • Time needed: 1 Hour
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Wheelchair Access: No
  • Route: Double back
  • Elevation: 200m
  • Wet Feet: No
  • Toilets: No
  • Dogs: No
  • Mobile Coverage: No
  • Last Updated: November, 2019

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Summary points about this walk

Walk Highlights

This is the film set for the Warner Bros movie, the Last Samurai, starring Tom Cruise. The drive along Moki and Kiwi roads will be slow but very interesting. This area is mostly steep beef and sheep country with the odd goat and wild pig roaming the hill sides. If you drive with extreme caution you will have a fantastic drive.

Track Quality

Scenic drive around the great North Taranaki country side. There is only 4 Km of dirt road.

Hazards

Narrow gravel road in the first section of the drive. If you drive the loop road there are long drop offs down into creeks below and three exciting papa tunnels to drive through

Transport

Unknown

Water

Unknown

Driving Instructions

If you are in downtown New Plymouth, get on to Courtenay St, the one way st running east on highway 45, drive to Waitara 18Km, then on to Urenui 34Km, Uruti 16Ks, don’t drive too fast or you will miss the right hand turn on to Uruti Rd. The wood workers shed and the community hall are all on the right hand side of the road, just as you round the slight right hand corner. Turn right on to Uruti Rd, drive down this country road with care. At 3.4Km, on a right hand corner, turn left on to Moki Road. You will be driving on an even narrower Road for 2.4km. You will be driving up hill on a sealed road for only a few kms, before driving on to a gravel road. At this point keep looking over to the valley on your left, try not to drive off the road. There is only parking for one small car on the left. Watch out for farmer brown, he drives quite fast around the corners in his 4X4. While you are there, drive up the road another 2.3Km to the road tunnel, drive through the tunnel and turn around at the other end. Or go for an exciting Taranaki back country tour.

Shops & Restaurants Nearby

In New Plymouth

Area & Trail History

The site is set on a 2,000 acre sheep and cattle station. Construction began in July 2002. It involved forming a 3.5km long road along the bottom of the valley and then making a track up the hill to the Samurai site. The building crew started work on 1st August 2002 and completed ‘The Last Samurai Village’ in January 2003.

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Points of interest along the walk​

The Last Samurai Village
The Last Samurai Village
The Last Samurai Village

Point 1: The Last Samurai Village

The public road is as close as you can get to the village which is 600 M across the valley on private land.  The station back down the road does tours of the village, But it will cost you $$.
While you are there, have a look at the road tunnel, it’s just another 2.3 Km up the road.
Drive with caution, the road is narrow, with very tight corners.
Remember you are not the only driver on the road, a cattle truck could be just around the corner.
Drive through the tunnel and down the road for 50 M to a safe place to turn around.
There are a lot of these tunnels around this area. If you are looking for a very scenic drive out in the true back blocks, then this is your road.

Site of old Rerekapa village
Rerekapa Valley
Rerekapa track starting point
Kiwi tunnel

Point 2: End Of Kiwi Road

There are a lot of these tunnels around this area, if you are looking for a very scenic drive out in the true back blocks, then this is your road.
BUT EXTREME CAUTION is needed.
THE DISTANCE IS 37 Km back on to the main road then on to New Plymouth, about a 45 minutes depending how slow you drive.
To explore the back country
Drive through the tunnel and down to the end of MOKI Rd 4.4 Km
Turn Left onto KIWI RD, the creek should be on your left.
At 11.4 Km dive up the hill past the farm house and the air strip
At the air strip, is the walk to the Mt Messenger walking Track
Look up the Mt Messenger Track on trampingtracks
Now drive down the other side of the hill
At 14.8 Km Drive over the small wooden bridge and drive past the Makarakia Rd on your right.
At 16.4 km down the road is the start of the Rerekapa Hut track on your right hand side there is a sign on the gate.
Look up Rerekapa Hut track on trampingtracks
drive past the old red wool shed
At the next sharp left hand corner were the massive stand of pine trees are growing, this was the first sit of Rerekapa village in the early 1890.
Tunnel 2 on KIWI Road.
17.7 Km up the hill and through the second tunnel.
Now drive with caution. This section of road is narrow, steep and windy.
At 23 Km You should be at the intersection Of OKAU Road. Turn LEFT on to the sealed road.
24 Km Drive down the valley following the OKAU river to the Third tunnel and out on to the main Road at AHITITI 36 Km
Turn LEFT and drive 70 Km back to New Plymouth on high Way 3, there is one more tunnel to drive through Mt Messenger.




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