Last updated November 2026
The McKerrow Track climbs to the 706 m summit of Mt McKerrow in Remutaka Forest Park, with panoramic glimpses of Wainuiomata and the Hutt Valley from vantage points on the way. DOC grades it Advanced and allows about 6 hours for the full trip over the 6.9 km track.
You can start from Wainuiomata, via the Whakanui Track from Hine Road and Sunny Grove, or from Catchpool Valley. Trees hide the view at the very top, so the best outlooks come on the ridge below. When we checked on 18 October 2026, DOC had an alert for ungulate control, including aerial shooting, in parts of Remutaka Forest Park.
Track Facts
Tracks can close at short notice for slips, storm damage or maintenance. Check DOC's current alerts for McKerrow Track on the day you walk.
Current alerts on DOC
Practical Information
- Start
- End of Sunny Grove, off Hine Road, Wainuiomata (via Whakanui Track), or Catchpool Valley car park
- Distance from the city
- About 17 km from Wellington
- Walking time
- About 6 hours return; about an hour more if you descend to the Ōrongorongo Track
- Track length
- 6.9 km
- Grade
- Advanced
- Dogs
- Dogs on a leash only
- Summit
- Mt McKerrow, 706 m
- Managed by
- Department of Conservation
- Status
- Open with a DOC alert when checked on 18 October 2026 (ungulate control, including aerial shooting, in parts of Remutaka Forest Park). 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 McKerrow Track
DOC notes that Mt McKerrow is not your typical maunga: you know you have reached the top when the uphill slog along the ridge turns into a descent. Trees cover the summit, but there are panoramic peeks of Wainuiomata and the Hutt Valley at vantage points along the way.
From Wainuiomata, walk up the Whakanui Track from Hine Road and Sunny Grove. At the top of the hill, turn right at the signpost and follow the ridge south along the eastern side of the Wainuiomata Valley to the summit.
Just below the top the track splits. Go right to follow the Clay Ridge and Five Mile Loop tracks down to the Catchpool car park, a trip of around six hours, or turn left and descend to the Ōrongorongo Track and the car park, which adds about an hour.
Coming from Catchpool, you pass through regenerating podocarp-hardwood scrub, then gnarly old podocarps and hardwoods with black and hard beech. An area of windthrow gives spectacular views of Wellington on a fine day, before you reach the summit and its cloak of silver beech.
Getting There
DOC says Hine Road is the last road on the left as you head out of Wainuiomata towards the coast; the Whakanui Track starts at the end of Sunny Grove, off Hine Road. Catchpool Valley, the other entry point, is about 10 km down the Coast Road behind Wainuiomata.
Planning Your Trip
Mountain weather can change quickly, so carry warm clothes, food, water and stout footwear. When we checked on 18 October 2026, DOC also had an alert for ungulate (goat, deer and pig) control in parts of Remutaka Forest Park from 10 August 2026 to 30 June 2027, including aerial shooting and ground hunting with indicator dogs.
Check the operation area map on the DOC page before you go. Tell someone your plans; Plan My Walk is a handy way to plan and share your trip.
Where to Learn More
Department of Conservation: McKerrow Track: track information, alerts and status. Track information: Crown Copyright: Department of Conservation Te Papa Atawhai 2026. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
Department of Conservation: Remutaka Forest Park: park overview, dog access areas, hunting rules and other entrances to the park.
Plan My Walk: plan your trip, check the forecast and share your intentions with someone you trust.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does the McKerrow Track take?
DOC says the trip takes around six hours, or about an hour more if you descend via the Ōrongorongo Track.
Where does it start?
From the end of Sunny Grove off Hine Road in Wainuiomata, via the Whakanui Track, or from Catchpool Valley.
How high is Mt McKerrow?
DOC gives the summit as 706 m.
Is there a view from the top?
Trees obscure the summit view, but there are panoramic glimpses of Wainuiomata and the Hutt Valley on the way, and views of Wellington from a windthrow area.
How hard is it?
DOC grades it Advanced, with a long uphill ridge climb.
Can I take my dog?
DOC lists the track as dogs on a leash only.
Is there any activity I should know about?
When we checked on 18 October 2026, DOC had an ungulate control alert for parts of the park, including aerial shooting. Check the DOC page before you go.
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.