Aongatete Lodge

Several outstanding walks start and end at the Aongatete Outdoor Education Lodge in the Kaimai Mamaku Forest Park.

This lodge is set in an attractive bush environment - mainly lowland podocarps and native trees. To get here, drive to the end of Wright Road.

There is a carpark area before the gate to the lodge ablution block and takes you to a junction where the short Nature Trail Loop branches to the right.

Continuing along the main track you reach a left-hand branch. The Long Loop continues straight ahead (this is a more difficult walk; there are stream crossings and boots are recommended.

Turning left takes you around the easier Short Loop. At the next junction, turn left again and soon you'll reach the edge of the bush. A stile crosses the fence into a paddock, and you return to the carpark.

The walk to the Aongatete River starts on the western side of the lodge. In damp conditions the track can be slippery, so please be careful. After about 15 minutes, it branches left and leads to some attractive swimming holes.