Part of the Napier Walks collection.
- From the top of the ridge you look out over hilly sheep and cattle farmland and down onto Lake Tutira itself.
- A relaxing farmland and lakeside walk, with a chance to try your luck at trout fishing (you will need a fishing licence).
- Water birds on the lake include NZ scaup (New Zealand’s only diving duck), black swan, white heron and Australian coot.
- Native bush and forest edges are home to bellbird, wood pigeon, tui, grey warbler and fantail.
- Before you go: the area north of the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council campground remains closed due to unstable ground following tree harvesting. The tracks above the campground going up to Table Mountain/Ridgemount track are now open.
Quick facts
| Location | North Island, Hawkes Bay, East Coast |
| Distance | 4.80 kms |
| Time needed | 2 hours 15 minutes |
| Difficulty | Medium |
| Wheelchair access | No |
| Route | Round trip |
| Elevation | 375m |
| Wet feet | No |
| Toilets | Yes |
| Dogs | No |
| Mobile coverage | No |
Getting there
Get on State Highway 2 heading north out of Napier, the same road that runs on to Wairoa and Gisborne, or inland to Taupo. You will pass Napier Airport at around 5.1 kms. At 12.5 kms you reach the turn off to Lake Taupo, do not take it, carry on straight ahead and over the bridge.
At 24 kms the road twists and turns through Tangoio Forest, the view from the top is excellent, take it easy on the way down into the next valley. Around Devils Elbow it is only another 2 kms to the turn off for Lake Waikopiro. Watch for the first lake on your right, the turn off is just around the next corner.
Drive down the dirt road for 1.3 kms to the motorhome and camping ground. The gate 50m past the camp ground is locked, so this is where the walk starts on foot.
The walk
From the highway, follow the dirt road all the way to its end. There may be one gate to open to get into the camp ground.
Walk into the camp ground keeping to the left. Follow the fence line for about 80m until you reach a gate, there is a small drain running alongside the fence that you might have to step across.
Go through the gate and up the gully on the farm track, watch for the marker posts with orange painted tops. The climb to the top is steep enough to work up a sweat, or what I was told at the time, a glow. Not sweat. About 15 minutes up there is a shelter where you can sit and take in the views over the lake and surrounding hills.
About 20 minutes on from the shelter you reach the next turn off.
Turn right onto Pera’s Track toward Lake Waikopiro, then simply follow the ridge to the lookout.
About 30 minutes from the turn off the views are genuinely breathtaking, just keep well back from the cliff face, it is a long painful tumble to the bottom.
You will climb, jump and crawl over a stile along here, the marker posts are spread out a little too far apart in places, so keep an eye out for them.
Side step the rabbits and work your way downhill to the dam, about 15 minutes of walking.
From the dam, look ahead down the valley and you will see the dirt farm track snaking its way down to the lake.
This section can get cut up by cattle over winter, so expect muddy boots. It is otherwise an easy track to follow down to the lake, with marker posts showing the way. Watch out for the Aberdeen Angus cattle, Blackpolls in the local slang, hill country cattle that can be a little wild and will sometimes rush out of the scrub as you walk past. It will give you a fright.
When you arrive at the lake, turn right and follow the gravel road around the lake edge back to the main gravel road you drove in on. Turn right again and it is about 900m back to the car.
What you’ll see
This is working farmland, so expect sheep and cattle in the paddocks you pass through. Hawke’s Bay Regional Council notes that stock, including cattle with calves, may be on the tracks, so give them room and always close gates behind you between paddocks.
On the water look for NZ scaup, black swan, white heron and Australian coot. In the pines and along the bush edges you will hear bellbird, wood pigeon, tui, grey warbler and fantail. If you have brought a rod and a licence, Lake Tutira and Lake Waikopiro are both known for trout.
Who it’s for
This suits reasonably fit walkers who don’t mind a proper climb and a bit of mud. The steep sections and stiles rule out prams, wheelchairs and anyone unsteady on their feet. Families with older kids who are used to farm walks will be fine, keen bird watchers and trout anglers will find plenty to like too.
When to go
Good boots and a dry spell make the farm track sections far more pleasant, this ground turns to mud quickly after rain. The Department of Conservation closes the connecting Tutira Walkway for lambing from 1 August to 30 September each year, so avoid that window if you can. Given the recent storm and slip damage across the wider network (see Important stuff below), check DOC and Hawke’s Bay Regional Council alerts before you commit to the drive.
Important stuff
Dogs: Not allowed. Hawke’s Bay Regional Council prohibits dogs and other pets within Tutira Regional Park, and DOC’s Tutira Walkway, which this walk connects into, is also a no dog area.
Seasonal closure: DOC closes the Tutira Walkway for lambing every year from 1 August to 30 September. Plan your visit outside those dates.
Track closures, check before you go: Sections of this walking network have been affected by storm and slip damage. Pera’s Track and the wider Tutira loop have had a long term closure since February 2025 storm damage, and the connecting Galbraith’s Track has been closed since June 2025 due to landslips. Hawke’s Bay Regional Council also states the forestry harvest and paddock area behind the gate north of the campground, including Galbraith’s Track, remains closed for an extended season. Check the current DOC alerts and the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council Tutira Regional Park page before you head out, this walk may not be passable as described until repairs are done.
- Farm animals: This is a working farm. Hawke’s Bay Regional Council advises extra care around cattle, especially those with calves, and asks walkers to close gates between paddocks. The Aberdeen Angus cattle on this route can be flighty and will sometimes bolt out of cover as you pass.
- Water quality: Lake Tutira can suffer from toxic algal blooms. If you are thinking of swimming or handling your catch, check current water quality on LAWA before you go.
- Camping: The Hawke’s Bay Regional Council campground at the start of the walk costs $15 per vehicle per night. Mobile reception is limited here, so pay before you arrive rather than relying on being able to do it on site.
- Safety: There is a steep cliff face along the ridge top section, keep well back from the edge, especially with kids.
- Water on the walk: None, other than at the camp site. Carry your own.
Common questions
Are dogs allowed on Pera’s Walk?
No. Dogs are not permitted in Tutira Regional Park or on the connecting DOC Tutira Walkway.
Is Pera’s Track currently open?
Not always, check first. Storm and slip damage has closed sections of the wider Tutira network since 2025, including Pera’s Track and Galbraith’s Track. Check DOC alerts and the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council website for the latest status before you drive out.
Can you camp near the start of the walk?
Yes, there are two options. The Hawke’s Bay Regional Council campground at the trailhead costs $15 per vehicle per night, best paid in advance as mobile coverage is patchy. DOC also runs a separate, free campsite at Lake Tutira that is open year round.
Is Lake Tutira safe for swimming?
Sometimes. The lake can be affected by toxic algal blooms, check current water quality on LAWA before swimming or eating any fish you catch.
How long does Pera’s Walk take?
Around 2 hours 15 minutes for the 4.80 km round trip, longer if you stop to fish or watch birds.
My honest take
I walked this on a clear morning and the climb up from the camp ground wakes you up fast. It is steep enough that you will feel it in your legs, whatever anyone tells you about a glow instead of a sweat. The shelter partway up is worth the stop, the view over Lake Tutira and the hills behind it is one of the better ones I have found on a farm walk in Hawke’s Bay.
The ridge section past Pera’s Track turn off is the highlight, big open views, and genuinely steep drop offs if you wander too close to the edge. I did not expect the cattle to be quite so jumpy either, a couple of Blackpolls came crashing out of the scrub near the dam and gave me a proper fright. Keep your wits about you through that stretch.
The walk down to the lake and back along the gravel road is the easy, quiet part after all that, a good chance to slow down and look for the water birds before you are back at the car.
Other walks nearby
Back to Napier Walks.
