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Ruapekapeka Pā Track
Where is it?
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From Whangārei, follow SH 1 north for 35km. Just past the Tōwai service station, turn right into Ruapekapeka Rd and follow this for 4km. You’ll see signs for Ruapekapeka and the car park 300m beyond the intersection where Ruapekapeka Rd meets Kawakawa Rd.
Need to Know
DOGS ARE WELCOME
TIME & DISTANCE: 30min; 1.5km loop track
FITNESS: Basic fitness required
TERRAIN: Easy walking
Track Overview
Surrounded by farmland, this loop track starts at the car park and takes you past where the British army had their front line and through sections of native bush. You’ll then pass through the large wooden posts that mark the entrance to Ruapekapeka Pā – a Māori pā designed to be effective as a defence against British muskets and heavy artillery. Today Ruapekapeka is New Zealand’s best preserved land war battlefield. The ditch and bank defences, a carronade used by Chief Kawiti and the earthen defences of the British forward position are still visible. Once you reach the top you’ll be rewarded with expansive coastal views of the Northland region.
Ruapekapeka Pā Gateway
Northland Tourism
Ruapekapeka Pā’s combination of trenches and strong palisades made it very effective against assault by muskets and heavy artillery. These palisades consisted of two rows, 3-5m-high, made with pūriri tree trunks and split timber and lashed together and reinforced with protective flax padding. These were separated by a 2m-wide track and surrounded the pā.
