Child friendly rating: 4 stars

Distance: 5km

Signposted time: 3 hours

Bookings Required? Yes

Suitable in Winter? Likely not

Camping Available? Limited space

4wd required? No

Parking:

Park at the Sunrise Hut carpark on North Block Road inland from Ongaonga & Tikokino. There are a few farm gates to open & close on your way.

The Track:

The track is good quality with switchbacks meaning it's never too steep at a time. It does climb from an elevation of 600 to an elevation of 1300, but there's no scrambling involved, just slow and steady uphill.

At the start, you cross farmland for around 10 minutes. Then once at the conservation area, it's flatter till you start going up the first set of switchbacks.

After this, the track flattens out for about 3/4 of a km before there are a few more switchbacks, and then you get to the Waipawa Forks track junction. There is a seat here. You're close to 2/3 of the way there distance-wise, but only about 1/2 way up elevation-wise.

From the junction, there is another flatter section for about 500m before you start climbing the last section of switchbacks towards the hut. This can feel quite hard mentally as you're so close, but the track still climbs.

The last section does have a few exposed bits where wind can get you, but you're fairly close to the hut by this point.

Almost the whole way the track is wide enough to hold a childs hand - or even 2 kids hands.

There are no overgrown sections, and the track is mainly smooth enough that toddlers can walk sections easily.

Hut:

 The hut is lovely, large, spacious, and with stunning views over the Hawke's Bay - especially of sunrises as the name suggests.

The bunks are 3 high, but do have rails. Most are individual, but there are some platform options.

If going past the hut to Armstrong Saddle, the winds can get quite strong. After you pass the sign warning you to take care, the first section instantly lets you know if wind levels are too high. There are steep drop-offs so you definitely don't want to be going past the hut in high winds.

There is cellphone reception at the hut, but not the whole way on the walk. The carpark does have cellphone reception.

Recommendations:

 This does make a great first or early hut to visit. Expect to carry kids under 3 for sections, while 3yo+ who are capable can walk the whole way unless they're having an off day.

The views at sunrise are spectacular, and visiting in autumn helps with being able to see these as sunrise is at a slightly more reasonable hour.

The only thing that stops this track from being 5 stars child friendly is quite how steep it is - some kids will not handle the steepness well. Don't load their packs up heavy, or with little kids consider whether they can just walk with no pack particularly if they haven't done much tramping before.