It’s a 9km walk that will take you around 4 hours. Awesome bush, streams and farmland along the way. Stop for lunch at Daly’s Clearing Hut or stay the night, no bookings required, first come, first served. There are 16 bunks.

  • Location: Near Waikino and Waihi
  • Distance: 9 kms
  • Time needed: 4 Hours
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Mountain Bike: Not permitted
  • Route: Loop
  • Elevation: 326m
  • Wet Feet: No
  • Toilets: Yes
  • Dogs: No
  • Mobile Coverage: No
  • Last Updated: July 2021

After a coffee and cake in Waihi you should be ready for a easy walk up the Waitawheta Stream to the turn off to Dalys clearing hut. Take five minutes to read the three information boards on the area.

From Daly’s Clearing carpark you just walk to the end of the road and jump the fence. All we did then was follow the orange markers down the farm track and along the pleasant and enjoyable Waitawheta Stream.

We jumped another fence and walked into the bush at around 30 minutes from the end of the road. Just inside the bush, we were met by another explosion of interesting information to read. Back on the track to Daly’s Clearing again, no not a track but the old Waitawheta tramway.

I had to watch where I was walking, the steel railway spikes were sticking up out of the native timber sleepers by about 20mm, just the right height to trip you up just so you could land on another rusty old spike.

This section of the walk was so enjoyable I almost walk past the turnoff to Daly’s Clearing

From the turn-off to Daly’s Clearing Hut took us 30 minutes. There was just a short steep climb up a few steps made from half round posts. Then there is a small creek to step over and before arriving at the hut. I was amazed to find Daly’s Hut to be very clean and tidy, I would have no problem sleeping in Daly’s Clearing Hut. There is no to book the hut.

From Daly’s Hut, we turned left and walked across the clearing and followed the track leading to Mangakino track. This short 600m walk was through a very wet dark second growth bush.

It was quite surprising to walk out onto the old six foot miners track that you could ride a mountain bike along. The Mangakino track starts from Karangahake Gorge and goes through to Mt Te Aroha, a very interesting two day’s full on walk.

The Mangakino Track is an easy track to follow. You will be walking down hill most of the time. It will take you about 40 minutes to reach the turn off to Deans Track.

An easy downhill walk out to the farmland. Then you just follow the markers back to the car. You might encounter an electric fence along the way.

See more of my walks around Waihi area