The Kauaeranga Kauri Trail, better known as The Pinnacles, is hands down one of the best short overnight hikes on the North Island. Located near the stunning Coromandel Peninsula, this track follows an old Kauri logging route through native bush and rewards you with incredible sunrises and sunsets at the summit.

Track overview

Difficulty: Moderate

Length: 14km return

Time: 6 hours or overnight

Start your walk by cleaning your shoes at the DOC station and then climb through the Kauaeranga Valley. The walk to the base of the summit takes you through groves of nikau palms and towering trees and across streams and swing bridges. It’s ultra peaceful and feels like a world away from real life!

After about an hour, the track starts to climb. And when I say climb, I mean climb. There are plenty of stairs to help you, but some of them are huge. I’m 165cm tall (5ft 5”) and found them pretty tricky as they're just too tall for my legs. You’ll soon reach the Pinnacles Hut, which is the largest backcountry hut in New Zealand. If you plan to stay overnight, I recommend beginning your walk around late morning as the hut doesn’t open until 2 pm. There’s a lovely DOC ranger here who will take you through a briefing and then open the bunk rooms so you can choose your bed. Once you’ve dropped off your bags, head up to the summit. It will take around 45 minutes to climb to the top of the track. There are steep stairs, rocks, and ladders to climb, but the view from the top is worth it!

If you’re staying the night, you have to come up for sunrise, too. You’ll start climbing in the dark, so bring a head torch. Watching the sun creep over the Pacific Ocean and light up the Coromandel was such a ‘wow, this is why I hike’ moment and one of my favourite memories from 2024. From the top, you get 360° views across the Coromandel, Bay of Plenty, Hauraki Gulf, and Hauraki Plains.

How long will it take?

Most people hike here overnight and stay at the DOC hut, which only costs $35 per night and is the largest backcountry hut in New Zealand with 80 beds.

If you’re short on time, you can do the hike in one day. It takes about six hours return (plus time for photos and snacks). I’ve done it as a day hike from Auckland before, and it’s doable, but it’s a long day, so you’ll need to bring heaps of water, food, and sunblock. If you don’t want to drive there and back in a day, you can camp at the Pinnacles trailhead for just $15 per night.

How to get there

There is no public transport out to the Pinnacles, so you'll need to bring your car or campervan. The Kauaeranga Valley is a 1 hour, 40 minute drive from Auckland city or 2 hours 15 minutes from Rotorua. There's a huge carpark and a small toilet, but no other facilities, so make sure you have enough food and fuel before you arrive. I’ve done The Pinnacles three times and never had any issues with my car being left overnight. However, you should take all your valuables with you - better to be safe than sorry.