Knuckle Hill Track

This aptly named hill provides the only elevated viewpoint of Whanganui Inlet, a huge estuary declared a marine reserve and wildlife management reserve in 1994.

From the car park, an old logging road climbs gently through regenerating forest to a clearing, where there is plenty of space to relax and picnic. This 5.6 kilometre section of road takes about one hour to walk or a little less to mountain bike. At the clearing, the marked route up Knuckle Hill begins - a short climb of 20 minutes.

If mountainbiking leave your bike at the clearing.

From the top, right on the boundary of Kahurangi National Park, are excellent views of the top of the South Island, particularly Farewell Spit and Whanganui Inlet.

Getting there

Head west from Pakawau over the Pakawau Saddle and down to Whanganui Inlet. Dry Road leads around the inlet, crossing several tidal streams before climbing to a car park at a saddle with a great view of the inlet mouth. Knuckle Hill Track is signposted from the car park.