Waipukurau: Cultural Trails and River Views

Waipukurau offers a range of ways to connect trails, landscapes and cultural history. When planning, it is worth distinguishing between route length and terrain, as well as between an easy cultural walk and an experience tied to September. Lookouts and trails along the Tukituki River add to the choice of activities around the town.

Trails and River Landscapes

The Tuki Tuki Trail is a network of routes for walkers and cyclists between Waipukurau and Waipawa. Russell Park in Waipukurau is one of the best starting points for the Waipawa–Waipukurau Loop. The loop is about 16 kilometres long and mostly flat, but it has some climbs. The steepest climb is on Tapairu Road. The route therefore includes both flat sections and uphill stretches.

A shorter option is an easy, 5-kilometre section of the Tuki Tuki Trail: it runs from Russell Park along limestone paths on the northern river embankment to Lindsay’s Bush on the edge of Waipukurau. Lindsay’s Bush is an example of preserved native bush. Russell Park also has a playground at a key access point to the trail’s limestone cycling paths.

For recreational cyclists, high-quality limestone paths on the river embankments on both sides of the Tukituki River provide an easy loop with a consistent gradient. This differs from the route description of the Waipawa–Waipukurau Loop, which includes some climbs. Around Waipukurau, the trail also provides river access for picnics, swimming and trout fishing. Specific access options may vary by section; if you are planning one of these activities, choose your route section accordingly.

Cultural Trails and History

The Waipukurau Pavement Walk starts at the Tavistock Hotel and takes about an hour. This easy cultural and historical walk passes historic buildings, churches and homes, as well as the site of Pukekaihau Pā. Its approximate duration and easy character make it a different option from the longer cycling and walking routes along the river.

Pukekaihau Pā in Waipukurau was once an important Māori settlement. It was a fortified hill settlement where many significant tīpuna (ancestors) lived from the 17th century onwards. The Pavement Walk passes the site of the pā, making its history part of the trail’s cultural and historical theme.

The Ngā Ara Tipuna Trail runs in and around Waipukurau. It combines traditional design elements with contemporary materials and techniques, digital storytelling, and information panels at significant sites. The Ngā Ara Tipuna Drive tour visits seven additional sites of cultural and natural significance around Waipukurau and Takapau. The trail and drive tour therefore offer different ways to explore cultural and natural history themes, and should not be conflated.

Arboretum, Views and Daffodils

Pukeora Forest of Memories is a 10-hectare memorial arboretum in Waipukurau. Short walking trails, mature trees and seasonal colours shape the grounds. It offers views of the Tukituki River and the town. Pukeora Lookout above Waipukurau offers panoramic views of the Tukituki River, Waipawa, the surrounding farmland and the Ruahine Ranges. The lookouts add another way to take in the landscape and surroundings alongside the walking trails.

A distinctly seasonal highlight is Taniwha Daffodils: the Mabin family opens its 20-acre, park-like grounds to the public every September. Hundreds of daffodil varieties bloom there. If you want to plan your trip around a visit, confirm the exact opening days for that year with the operator. This makes it easy to distinguish the September visit from Waipukurau’s trail and lookout options when planning your trip.

Discover more destinations: Patoka, Bridge Pa, Porangahau, Waipawa, Raukawa, Elsthorpe, Wallingford, Eskdale.

For the main travel overview: Hawkes Bay.