Lush subtropical rainforest, ancient kauri trees, swinging bridges, and majestic mountain views await hikers along one of New Zealand’s most beloved tracks, the Kauaeranga Kauri Trail. The hike is affectionately known as “The Pinnacles,” named for the spires of rhyolite that punctuate the summit, offering sweeping panoramas of the Coromandel Peninsula.
Located on New Zealand’s North Island, this epic trail is just a two-hour drive from hubs like Auckland or Hamilton, making it the perfect spot for a day trip (if you’re feeling strong) or a weekend adventure. The Kauaeranga Kauri Trail is one of the most popular overnight hikes in the area, boasting a massive “hut” kitted out with a kitchen, bunk beds to accommodate up to 80 people, a common area, and the cleanest pit toilets I’ve ever used.
In addition to a “luxury hut” and epic views, this storied hike follows a packhorse route used by gold miners and kauri loggers in the early 20th century. Along the way you’ll encounter impressive stone steps hewn into the mountainside, as well as the remnants of a stone skidded road near Hydro Camp used to transport logs dragged by teams of cattle.
If you’re looking to dip your toes into the world of overnight hiking or an incredible day hike on the North Island, the Pinnacles is just the ticket.
AllTrails map: Kauaeranga Kauri Trail
Length: 8.5 miles (~14 kilometers)
Elevation gain: 2,545 feet (776 meters)
Grade: Intermediate
Time: It took us about 3 hours to the hut, then another 40 minutes to the summit. About 8 hours round-trip.
Booking a night at the Pinnacles Hut
If you’re hoping to spend the night at the hut — which I highly recommend to catch a breathtaking sunset and sunrise — you’ll need to book ahead. Reservations are made through the Department of Conservation (DOC) website, and sell out quickly, especially weekends in the summer. The prices are a bit more expensive on the weekend (the most popular time to visit) and all prices are NZD. Booking ahead is absolutely essential, as the hut is often sold out.
Sunday to Thursday
- Adult (18+ years): $25 per night
- Child/youth (5-17 years): $12.50 per night
- Infant (0-4 years): free
Friday and Saturday
- Adult (18+ years): $35 per night
- Child/youth (5–17 years): $17.50 per night
- Infant: (0-4 years): free
The hut is managed by a warden (a delightful gentleman named James when we visited), who will check you in upon arrival and give you the rundown on the place. Check-in is often around 2:00 pm, (or whatever time the warden writes on the whiteboard at the entrance), at which point you can claim a bunk in either of the two sleeping rooms, each housing 40 people.
This hut is considered the most luxurious in NZ, given its primo amenities like a spacious kitchen with gas stoves, some solar-powered lighting (no electricity), bunks with mattresses, and water brought in from the nearby river.
We had a tremendous time at the hut; it was cleaner and more pleasant than some well-established hostels I’ve stayed at, and all around good vibes. While you shouldn’t drink the water from the taps, it’s all good for boiling and cooking with, washing up, and even taking a shower — a surprising (yet frigid) perk after a long day of hiking. The delightful warden James declared to us, “Drinking the creek water makes me stronger, though I can’t recommend it to others!”
Getting to the Pinnacles
The Kauaeranga Kauri Trail or Pinnacles is located within the Coromandel Forest Park, a protected area managed by the DOC. The closest city is Thames, a quirky, former gold mining town situated on the shores of the placid Firth of Thames. If you’re looking for a bite to eat in the area, Coco Coffee serves up the best iced chai I’ve had to date, along with other caffeinated beverages and baked goods.
For a heartier meal, check out Eretas Tapas and Taco Bar. While tapas denotes small plates, the portions were generous, with starters like multicolored heirloom tomatoes with pistachio and whipped feta, and tender beef tacos topped with avocado and radish.
From Thames, it’s a 40-minute drive to the parking lot for the Pinnacles. Before reaching the end, you’ll pass by the Department of Conservation – Kauaeranga Visitor Centre, which is about 9 kilometers before the parking lot. Here you can check in for an update on the conditions at the top and use your last flush toilet for a while.
If you’re traveling through New Zealand and doing the hike as an overnight, the visitor center can store your extra luggage for just $2 NZ per bag. This is super convenient as the car park isn’t known for being especially secure, and cars have been broken into. We stored a suitcase during our overnight, had no issues, and felt much better about it there than in the car.
Packing for the hike
The Department of Conservation has a heap of hiking packing lists you can check out here, but here’s everything we packed for an overnight at the Pinnacles during summer (February). I wore the same clothes for hiking each day and brought a spare outfit for relaxing at the hut and pajamas.
Clothing:
- Shorts or hiking pants
- Athletic top
- Wool socks (2 pairs is nice)
- Layers: Fleece or wool (it gets chilly at the top)
- Lightweight puffer jacket
- Raincoat
- Rain pants (optional, just check the forecast)
- Hiking boots or shoes (although I got away with just running shoes)
- Hut shoes (having slides or flip-flops is nice for walking around the hut, you can’t wear your boots into the rooms).
- Lightweight towel (if you plan to use the shower)
- Clothes for lounging at the hut (I brought lightweight pants and a clean top)
- Pajamas
Gear:
- Backpack (mine was a 36L pack from Gregory)
- Headlight (for hiking to the summit for sunrise! Or a late-night bathroom visit)
- Bag to pack out your garbage.
- Portable charger (there’s no electricity at the hut)
- Sleeping bag (we bought ours off of Facebook marketplace, otherwise Mountain Warehouse, Macpac, or Kathmandu will have all your hiking camping needs)
- Cooking pots and utensils (the hut has gas burners in the kitchen to use)
- 2-3 L of drinking water (the hut has water for washing up)
- Enough food for lunch, dinner, and breakfast the next morning (there’s a big Pak ‘N Save in Thames)
- Extra snacks!
- First aid and emergency equipment
Hiking the Kauaeranga Kauri Trail
Check-in at the hut begins around 2:00 p.m., so unless you’re doing the Pinnacles as a day hike there’s no reason to start at the crack of dawn. The trail is about 4 miles each way, with over 2,500 feet in elevation gain — your calves will be burning. At the trailhead, make sure to use the cleaning station to wipe your boots/shoes to prevent diseases from spreading to the forest’s beloved kauri trees.
The first part of the track is canopied by lush forest and the classic NZ silver ferns, following the Kauaeranga River with multiple swing bridge crossings. Follow signs for “The Pinnacles Hut” and “Hydro Camp via Webb Creek.” Along the way, you’ll climb up steps carved into the river rock (created during the logging days) which look epic but are very slippery when wet.
The forest thins out as you arrive at Hydro Camp, and after a rocky ascent, you’ll get your first glimpse of the Pinnacles. The Pinnacles Hut is about an hour from Hydro Camp, which is the perfect spot to take a break for lunch at one of the picnic tables. After lunch, it wasn’t quite time to check in, but we left our packs at the hut and headed for the summit. The final climb is steep, with stairs, ladders, and even a few iron rungs like a via ferrata and takes about 45 minutes.
We were lucky to have a clear day, and I’d imagine this could be pretty treacherous if the terrain were wet. At the top, you’re afforded sweeping views of the Coromandel, all the way out to the sea. I highly recommend climbing up (even just partway) for sunrise and sunset, it was one of the best sunrises I’ve witnessed. Check-out from the hut is 9:00 a.m., so you’ll have plenty of time for a sunrise hike and breakfast before packing up your bags and trekking down.
