Last updated November 2026
The Ridge Track in the Mōrere Recreation Reserve is a demanding climb through tall forest to a ridge of black beech, lancewood and mingimingi, linking the Nikau Loop and Mangakawa tracks. DOC grades it Advanced, gives 2 hours and says it suits fit walkers.
You reach it from the Cemetery Track, a short marked track from the cemetery off Tunanui Road, near the Mōrere Hot Springs on SH2. Clearings along the ridge give views over the forest and the farmland hills beyond. The reserve is about 58 km from Gisborne.
Track Facts
Tracks can close at short notice for slips, storm damage or maintenance. Check DOC's current alerts for Ridge Track on the day you walk.
Current alerts on DOC
Practical Information
- Start
- Cemetery Track off Tunanui Road (no formed car park)
- Distance from the city
- About 58 km from Gisborne
- Walking time
- 2 hr
- Track length
- 2.5 km
- Grade
- Advanced
- Dogs
- No dogs
- Track type
- Tramping track
- Managed by
- Department of Conservation
- Status
- Open when checked on 18 October 2026. 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 Ridge Track
From Tunanui Road, the 10-minute Cemetery Track leads from the cemetery to the start of the Ridge Track. The track then climbs through tall forest onto a ridge covered in black beech, lancewood and mingimingi.
Along the ridge, clearings open up views over the forest canopy and the farmland hills around Mōrere. The track links with the Nikau Loop Track and the Mangakawa Track, so you can combine them into a longer outing.
DOC calls it a demanding track for fit walkers.
Combining Tracks
The Ridge Track sits between the easy Nikau Loop and the stream-side Mangakawa Track. Walkers wanting a longer day can link all three; check the DOC pages for each track’s conditions, as the Mangakawa Track has several stream crossings. Use Plan My Walk to check the weather and share your plans.
Getting There
The Mōrere Recreation Reserve is on SH2, which DOC places 40 km east of Wairoa. Turn onto Tunanui Road about 1 km north of the Mōrere Hot Springs entrance. DOC notes there is no formed car park at this entrance. Check DOC before you go and tell someone your plans.
Where to Learn More
Department of Conservation: Ridge 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: Mōrere Springs area: the Nikau Loop, Mangakawa and other Mōrere tracks.
Plan My Walk: weather, track alerts and a trip plan to share before you go.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does the Ridge Track take?
DOC gives 2 hours.
How hard is it?
DOC grades it Advanced and calls it a demanding track for fit walkers.
Where does it start?
Via the 10-minute Cemetery Track from the cemetery off Tunanui Road.
Can I take my dog?
No dogs.
What will I see?
Tall forest, a ridge of black beech, lancewood and mingimingi, and views from clearings over the forest and farmland hills.
Can I combine it with other tracks?
Yes. It links the Nikau Loop Track and the Mangakawa Track.
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.