4WD Tracks in Waikato

42 Traverse

The 42 Traverse is a long Central Plateau forestry route through native bush with river crossings, an easy cruise when dry and tricky in the wet.

Blue Pool

Blue Pool is a short Waikato gravel road dropping to the Tongariro River, with clear-water trout fishing and an easy riverside spot to pull over.

Bypass route

Bypass route is a short Waikato forest detour through native bush, easy to medium in the dry with deep bog holes that get soft after rain.

Centre of the North Island

Centre of the North Island is an easy Pureora Forest gravel run through big rimu and birdlife to the island's geographic centre, fine for 2WD.

Dropshaft

Dropshaft is a short, easy Waikato side track down to a power station dropshaft, with a concrete building where you can see the water moving through.

Fire Lookout

Fire Lookout is a short, easy Pureora Forest gravel track in the Waikato, ending in a five-minute walk up to an old fire watch tower with bush views.

Kaimanawa Forest/Clements Mill

Kaimanawa Forest/Clements Mill is an easy-going Waikato gravel road through clean native bush, beginner-friendly with an optional tricky quarry 4x4 side track.

Kaimanawa Loop

Kaimanawa Loop is an easy scenic Waikato gravel drive through native forest, with side tracks and an operational dam you can drive across.

Kaitieke Road

Kaitieke Road is a scenic Waikato backcountry route through King Country farmland and bush, an alternative way out to the Whakahoro campsite.

Kawhia Beach Loop

Kawhia Beach Loop is a scenic Waikato west coast beach run round the headland, easy with momentum but watch the tides and soft sand at the south.

Kawhia Road

Kawhia Road is an easy Waikato gravel run with valley and windfarm views, leading to Kawhia and the dig-your-own hot spa at Hot Water Beach.

Kiko Road

Kiko Road is an 18km Waikato gravel run into Kaimanawa Forest Park, an easy cruise through forestry and native bush with a rougher final stretch.

Klondyke Road

Klondyke Road is an easy 18 km gravel route over the hills near Port Waikato in the Waikato, with big views across logging and farm country.

Kokomiko Road

Kokomiko Road is an easygoing Waikato gravel drive through Central Plateau forest, leading out to the popular Piropiro Campsite.

Kururau Road

Kururau Road is an easy, well-graded gravel touring route through Waikato hill country, with rolling farmland, bush slopes and plenty of corners.

Mangatoetoenui Stream

Mangatoetoenui Stream is a short, easy Waikato gravel track suited to most 4WDs, ending at a quiet streamside spot to pull over.

Mangiti Road

Mangiti Road is an easy gravel drive through rolling Waikato farmland, good for cruising and linking into a longer loop towards the coast.

Ngaroma Block

Ngaroma Block is a hard 4WD park deep in the King Country, Waikato, with technical bush tracks and camping for capable trucks.

Oio Road

Oio Road is an easy Waikato gravel run through rural hill country out to Whakahoro Campsite, a gateway to the Whanganui River.

Old Mountain Road

Old Mountain Road is an easy, scenic Waikato gravel drive on the original Raglan route, with steep blind corners and a WW2 tank trap to spot.

Old Waiotapu Road/Kerosene Creek

Old Waiotapu Road in the Waikato is an easy gravel road south of Rotorua leading to Kerosene Creek, a warm geothermal swimming hole in native bush.

Opotiki Road

Opotiki Road is a twisty Waikato gravel route through bush and hill country, passing the Rangi Scenic Reserve, with good views along the way.

Otamaroa Road

Otamaroa Road is a Waikato hill climb through native bush onto a ridge, verified to the southern section with unconfirmed country beyond.

Otunui North/East Road

Otunui North/East Road is a twisty Waikato gravel route through hill country farmland and bush, with open back country views and an easy, relaxed drive.

Owawenga Road

Owawenga Road is a Waikato gravel run climbing into the Rangitoto Range through native bush, with clay patches, deer about, and a locked gate at the end.

Pirongia West Road

Pirongia West Road is an easy Waikato gravel run along the ridgetops, with native bush and sweeping views over Kawhia Harbour.

Pokaka Mill Campsite Road

Pokaka Mill Campsite Road is a bumpy Central Plateau gravel run to a quiet off-grid campsite with caves, native birdlife and an overgrown loop track.

Port Waikato

Port Waikato in the Waikato is an easy-going mix of soft-sand dunes, beach and tight bush tracks where the river meets the Tasman, good for stock 4WDs.

Pukerewa Road

Pukerewa Road is a short, easy gravel run through Waikato hill country with elevated farmland views, handy for linking into a longer day out toward the coast.

Quarry

Quarry is a short but seriously technical Hard-graded 4WD climb in the Waikato, with deep ruts, a tricky log obstacle and a tidy view up top.

Quarry Road

Quarry Road is a short Waikato side road that drops down to an old quarry, a handy out-and-back stop to pull over and stretch your legs.

Raglan to Kawhia

Raglan to Kawhia is a scenic Waikato west-coast gravel drive with ocean views, swim spots and a Bridal Veil Falls detour, fine for most vehicles.

Rangatua Forest

Rangatua Forest is a quiet Waikato bush track on mostly gravel, narrowing through native forest past a small wooden bridge to a rougher, overgrown end.

Rangipo Inlet Road

Rangipo Inlet Road is an easy sealed and gravel detour off the Desert Road in the Waikato, leading to the Rangipo dam's impressive water cannon and outlet.

Ratamarie Road

Ratamarie Road is a Waikato paper road winding through the hills around Ohakune, with rolling terrain, long farmland views and a rough, rustic surface.

Roto to Ohura Road

Roto to Ohura Road is a well-graded Waikato gravel backroad through bush country, an easy and scenic run to Ohura suitable for most vehicles.

Rotokura Road

Rotokura Road is a short, easy Waikato gravel road up to a carpark, with a 15-minute walk to peaceful Lake Rotokura at the end.

Ruakiwi Road

Ruakiwi Road is an easy Waikato gravel route through hills and farmland, smooth enough for two-wheel-drive and good for stringing together a longer run.

Select Loop Road

Select Loop Road is a well-graded gravel drive through Waikato's Pureora Forest, with native bush, huge trees, and an easy alternative to the harder tracks nearby.

SF70 Entry

SF70 Entry is an easy graded road into the Waikato's SF70 area, with views and a wild loop beyond where the red tracks get gnarly in the wet.

Side route

Side route is a short, tight Waikato detour off the main trail through dense forest, muddy and demanding and best suited to confident 4WDs with recovery gear.

State Forest 70 (SF70)

State Forest 70 (SF70) is a challenging Waikato bush track loop with everything from easy lines to extremely hard technical going, suited to capable 4WDs.

Taumatamaire Road

Taumatamaire Road is an easy Waikato gravel run climbing through forested hills, a simple drive with no real 4WD challenge.

Taurewa Intake

Taurewa Intake is a short, easy 4WD side track in the Waikato leading out to hydro infrastructure with quiet bush views.

Te Akau Coast Road

Te Akau Coast Road is an easygoing Waikato gravel run west of Ngaruawahia, through rolling farmland with open pastoral and coastal views.

Te Akau South Road

Te Akau South Road is an easy graded gravel run through Waikato farmland west of Ngaruawahia, best linked into a longer loop out toward the coast.

Te Piripiri Stream

Te Piripiri Stream is a short, tight-bush 4WD spur in the Waikato that drops towards the stream but stops short of the water, with plenty of bush rash.

Thompsons Track

Thompsons Track is a hard, rocky 4WD climb up the western Kaimai Ranges in Waikato, with steep ruts, a tight top section and a big view from the top.

Titiraupenga Road

Titiraupenga Road is a quiet Waikato forest drive near the centre of the North Island, with thick native bush and a tucked-away bush campsite.

Top Track

Top Track is a narrow, overgrown Waikato forest route up to Ten Man Hut, linked to the 42 Traverse and best suited to quad bikes.

Umukarikari Track (Road)

Umukarikari Track is a short, easy Waikato side road winding through tall native forest, a relaxed bush detour suited to less experienced drivers.

Urchin Lookout

Urchin Lookout is a short, easy gravel climb up through native bush in the Waikato, a good way to break up a north-south run.

Vandy Road

Vandy Road is a very-hard Waikato bush track, deep mud and bush rash all the way, best tackled with a winch and great for quads year-round.

Waikaretu Road

Waikaretu Road is an easy Waikato gravel drive with early coastal views, rolling farmland, and rock formations that are the real drawcard.

Waimarino River Mouth

Waimarino River Mouth in the Waikato is a short gravel drive to a big lake view, with deep water near the end that suits well-prepared 4WDs.

Waipakihi Campsite Access

Waipakihi Campsite Access is a short, rough Waikato descent to riverside camps on the Waipakihi River, suited to a maneuverable 4WD with good tyres.

Waipakihi Road

Waipakihi Road is an easy Waikato diversion off the Desert Road to riverside camping, with a deep washout and a snorkel-depth river crossing.

Waitetuna Valley

Waitetuna Valley in the Waikato is an easy half-seal, half-gravel detour between Raglan and Hamilton, with valley views and a dusty working quarry partway over the hill.

Wildlife Hut

Wildlife Hut is a short Waikato 4WD turn-off dropping through hunting country to a hut.