Ohakiri - St. Paul’s Rock
A steep but short hike in the Northland region
NEW ZEALAND
Located in the northeast corner of the North Island, a hike up the St. Paul's Rock is a must-do. The views of Whangaroa are absolutely spectacular as you are surrounded by inlets and rolling hills. The hike isn't very long, just over 600 meters and you gain about 100 meters in elevation. Typically, the hike takes about 20 minutes from the trailhead to the peak as you need to climb and scramble over some steep rocky sections.
The trail climbs steeply through regenerating manuka bush to the top of a volcanic plug (St. Paul’s Rock) with spectacular views of the Whangaroa Harbour. Chains are installed to help you climb the last 30 meters. With the steep sections, I wouldn't recommend climbing the trail in the rain. When we were there, we were fortunate that the sun was shining and visibility was great with views as far as the eye could see.
The view from the peak was stunning. We did the hike mid-week and only saw one other person on the trail who was heading down as we were just starting. When we reached the peak I took out my drone and got some footage of the 360 degree view.
This was truly a hike with spectacular views. The smell of the ocean air and views of the boats in the marinas was breathtaking. Definitely a must do hike if you are in the Whangaroa area. Happy exploring!
