Pararaha Gorge

by Bee Swan
3 years ago
Near Karekare, NZ

11 views

Take care! This is not an official track. From the Pararaha River onwards it is not maintained and there is limited cell phone reception. Do this at your own risk. Be careful and cautious at all times.
Its easier, and safer, working your way up the gorge, rather than down it. So go down the Buck Taylor Track and then up the gorge.

Use the satellite view to spot where the track leaves the council path and heads off up the gorge.

Heading up the gorge is funner if you accept your feet are going to get wet and just embrace it early. You will have to just keep your eyes out for the track/best way up. The track is non-existent in some places, and pretty nice in others. There are some tricky parts that require some rock scrambling. Take your time and go slow.
Further along the river, once you have past all the waterfalls and the stream becomes a bit more chill, the 'track' leaves the stream for a bit. You will notice that it is getting deeper and deeper and the sides steeper and steeper. Look for the track leaving the right side of the river (looking up the river) and heading up over a ridges before coming back down to meet it. I think you can make it going up the river but you might need to swim a couple of parts.
Once you reach the Odlin Timber Track, head up the left side of the river (looking up the stream) and its a short walk back to the carpark.