Ruahine Range Mountains

Address: Ruahine Range, North Island, New Zealand

The Ruahine Range is a mountain chain on New Zealand’s North Island forming part of the divide between Hawke’s Bay and Manawatu-Wanganui regions. The range comprises rugged ridges, native beech forests and higher tussock-covered tops and is a significant local conservation and recreation area.

The area is popular with trampers, hunters and backcountry hikers who use a network of marked tracks and Department of Conservation huts to access ridgelines and valleys. Wildlife and native forest habitat are key conservation features of the range.

Management and visitor facilities are provided through the Ruahine Forest Park framework operated by the Department of Conservation, which maintains tracks, huts and informational resources for multiday routes. The range runs roughly north-south inland from Hawke’s Bay and is accessed from valley roadheads in the surrounding districts.

• Recreation and management: The range contains a mix of native beech forest, alpine tussock country and ridgelines commonly used for multi-day tramps and hunting; huts and marked routes are managed by New Zealand’s Department of Conservation.

What to See#

• Ruahine Forest Park (backcountry routes and huts): A network of tramping routes and DOC-managed backcountry huts that provide access for multi-day hikes along the range.

The Ruahine Range is accessible from several roadheads off State Highway 2 near towns such as Dannevirke and Taihape. Many tracks and huts are managed by the Department of Conservation (DOC); check DOC for track grades and hut booking information.

• Use DOC (Department of Conservation) resources and local hut booking systems for multi-day routes-many tracks require pre-booked huts.
• Bring insect repellent during summer-the valleys can be full of sandflies and mosquitoes.
• Check avalanche forecasts and route conditions in winter; some passes are technical and require alpine experience.