Cape Brett Track, Rawhiti

One of Northland’s most exhilarating walks, the trail winds and weaves along coastal paths before arriving at a DOC hut, where you’ll find a most elegant 113-year-old lighthouse.

Where is it?

Set off from Rawhiti, Bay of Islands (4hr from Auckland, 40min from Russell) and walk 16km or for a shorter walk, take a water taxi from Russell to Deep Water Cove for a 6km hike.

Terrain

Undulating, sometimes steep, much of it in the canopy of regenerating bush.

Need to know

A permit, available from Russell Info Centre, is required to walk this track. Bookings essential if you wish to stay at the 23-bed DOC hut.

8hr one way from Rawhiti to the lighthouse; 16km or 2.5hr from Deep Water Cove to the lighthouse; 6km. An A to B walk.

Advanced tramping track

No dogs

Water supplies

Water supplies at the Cape Brett Hut are slightly salty from sea spray. Bring enough drinking water for the walk out to and back from the hut.

Cape Brett Track © Northland Inc.

TRACK OVERVIEW

Picturesque Cape Brett juts out into the Pacific Ocean at the eastern end of the Bay of Islands. With two ways to attack this walk, you can choose to do the eight-hour, 16km hard way from Oke Bay in Rawhiti or arrange for a water taxi to take you from Russell (or Paihia) and start at Deep Water Cove. This second option means the walk to the lighthouse will be a much more leisurely two-and-a-half-hour walk. Whichever you choose, you will be serenaded by choirs of birds as you wander through regenerating native bush along spectacular undulating coastal paths. Occasionally you’ll be sheltered beneath mānuka canopies, or on exposed narrow trails, before arriving at the DOC hut.

Looking for a place to stay? Book accommodation at aa.travel.co.nz