Nga Tapuwae o Toi and Kohi Point Walkway Loop

The Nga Tapuwae o Toi and Kohi Point Walkway Loop covers 15.72 km with 655 m of climbing, so it is a full-day hike for most walkers. The route is graded difficult, and the steeper coastal and bush sections around Kohi Point, Otarawairere, and the return through the reserve can make the pace slower than the distance suggests.

The loop links the Kohi Point coastal track with the wider Ngā Tapuwae o Toi walkway around Whakatāne and Ōhope. A commonly recommended direction is clockwise from the Whakatāne side, heading out via Kohi Point toward Ōhope, then returning inland through the scenic reserve system to complete the loop.

A practical start point for the full Nga Tapuwae o Toi and Kohi Point Walkway Loop is Gorge Road on the Whakatāne side. There is parking used for the full loop there, and the Department of Conservation also identifies the Whakatāne end of Mokorua Gorge on the Pacific Coast Highway as the best starting point for the Ngā Tapuwae o Toi Walkway.

The Nga Tapuwae o Toi and Kohi Point Walkway Loop combines native bush, birdsong, cliff-top coastal views, and historic pā sites. Highlights on this route include Kohi Point, secluded Ōtarawairere Beach, and Kāpū-te-rangi, the Pā of Toi, a major historic site above Whakatāne within the wider scenic reserve area.

Dogs are not allowed on key parts of the Nga Tapuwae o Toi and Kohi Point Walkway Loop. Kohi Point, Mokorua Gorge, and the bird walk areas are listed as prohibited dog areas in Whakatāne because they are Kiwi Zoned, so this is not a suitable loop for hiking with a dog.

The most comfortable time for the Nga Tapuwae o Toi and Kohi Point Walkway Loop is usually the drier, warmer part of the year, especially late spring through autumn. Whakatāne is known for a mild, sunny climate, but heavy rain can affect track conditions, and a major slip damaged part of the Ngā Tapuwae o Toi walkway after significant rainfall in October 2023.