Last updated November 2026
The Main Ridge Track in Tangihua Forest is a rough tramping route that follows the main ridge through thick vegetation, with very rewarding views on a clear day.
DOC grades it Advanced and allows 2–3 hours one way for the 7.3 km track. It links the Horokaka Track and the Te Haua Uru Track to form a loop of about 9 hours that ends at Tangihua Lions Lodge.
DOC says this loop should only be tackled by experienced trampers, as there are razorback ridges, few handholds and steep drops.
Track Facts
Tracks can close at short notice for slips, storm damage or maintenance. Check DOC's current alerts for Main Ridge Track on the day you walk.
Current alerts on DOC
Practical Information
- Start
- Behind the Horokaka Transmitter shed, at the end of the Horokaka Track (Omana Road access car park); also reached via the Te Haua Uru Track
- Distance from the city
- About 24 km from Whangārei
- Walking time
- 2–3 hours one way (Horokaka, Main Ridge and Te Haua Uru loop about 9 hours)
- Track length
- 7.3 km
- Grade
- Advanced
- Dogs
- Dogs with DOC permit (hunting)
- Water
- No water source in the forest; carry your own
- Managed by
- Department of Conservation
- Status
- Open when checked on 18 October 2026. Check DOC before you go.
- Track markers
- On marked bush tracks, DOC and most councils use orange triangles for the walking route. Triangles or tape in other colours, usually pink or blue, mark pest-control lines and traps. They can lead off the track, so don’t follow them.
About Main Ridge Track
The track runs along the spine of the Tangihua range between the Horokaka and Te Haua Uru tracks. The distance is not great, but DOC warns that the ridge is very undulating and travel is slow.
Rewards come in the form of views when the weather is clear, and the sense of travelling a genuinely rugged ridge. The Whangārei Tramping Club reopened and recut the track in 1991.
From the junction of the Main Ridge and Te Haua Uru tracks you can also continue north on the Northern Tangihua Track to Tangihua Hut, a further 2–3 hours.
DOC notes that the tracks and routes in Tangihua Forest pass sites of cultural and spiritual significance to the Parawhau Ngāpuhi people, and asks trampers to stay on the marked tracks.
Who It Suits
DOC says the Horokaka, Main Ridge and Te Haua Uru loop is for experienced trampers only. You need a high degree of skill and experience, route-finding ability, good gear and topographical maps. Expect razorback ridges, few handholds, steep drops and strenuous climbing in places.
Weather, Water and Hazards
There is no water source in the forest, so carry all you need. The ridge is exposed to rough weather; bring warm and waterproof tramping gear. Watch your footing at all times, stay on the marked tracks, and be aware that wasps and wasp nests may be present.
Getting to Tangihua Forest
Tangihua Forest lies about halfway between Whangārei on the east coast and Dargaville on the west. DOC says the best way in is from Omana Road, where the Tangihua access car park has room for 15 cars.
From the car park it is a 30-minute walk along a formed road to the bush line, then about another 15 minutes to Tangihua Lions Lodge, which DOC describes as a good orientation point for the forest’s tracks.
Planning Your Trip
This is backcountry tramping. Check DOC before you go for alerts and track updates, check the forecast, and tell someone your plans. Plan My Walk is a handy way to plan the trip and share your intentions.
Where to Learn More
Department of Conservation: Main Ridge Track: track information, alerts and status. Track information: Crown Copyright: Department of Conservation Te Papa Atawhai 2026. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
Plan My Walk: plan your trip, check the forecast and share your intentions with someone you trust.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does the Main Ridge Track take?
DOC allows 2–3 hours one way. The full loop with the Horokaka and Te Haua Uru tracks takes about 9 hours.
How hard is it?
DOC grades it Advanced. The loop is for experienced trampers only, with razorback ridges, few handholds and steep drops.
Where do I start?
DOC says the track starts behind the Horokaka Transmitter shed, at the end of the Horokaka Track, which begins just inside the bush line from the Omana Road car park. You can also reach it via the Te Haua Uru Track.
Is there water on the track?
No. DOC says there is no water source in the forest.
Is there a hut?
Not on the Main Ridge Track itself, but the Northern Tangihua Track leads to Tangihua Hut, a further 2–3 hours from the Te Haua Uru junction.
Can I take my dog?
The DOC rule is dogs with a DOC permit (hunting) only.
Do I need a map?
Yes. DOC says trampers should use topographical maps and have good route-finding skills.
Spotted something incorrect on this page? Let us know.
Sources and data notes 1
- Track Facts: Track facts and line: Crown Copyright, Department of Conservation Te Papa Atawhai 2026, CC BY 4.0. Elevation: LINZ (LiDAR), CC BY 4.0.