Wilkies Pools Loop Track

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Marios Gavalas

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Stratford, Taranaki

Camping near Stratford

Information

2.1 km return | 1 hour 20 minutes return

Wilkies Pools are a series of natural hollows excavated in a 20,000 year old lava bed by the Kapuni Stream. The water has worn smooth the stream bed and created a series of small water slides between the clear pools. If you’re game for a dip, you’ll realise quick - the stream is fed by mountain meltwater.

Walking Track

Access

The Dawson Falls Visitor Centre is signposted from Stratford along Celia Street, 500 metres south of the clock tower. This merges with Opunake Road and after 13.5 km Dawson Falls are signposted on the right. The national park boundary is 3 km from the junction, 5.8 km from the carpark by the visitor centre.

The start of the track is signposted from above the Dawson Falls Visitor Centre. Continue 10 minutes along the Ridge Loop Track to the start of the track proper on the left.

Track

After meeting the return of the Konini Dell Loop Track, the track crosses Kapuni Stream to a signposted detour to the left. This immediately accesses the series of clear pools with smooth water slides tumbling between them. Climb the rocky margins upstream to the sign which explains the various ash and tephra deposits on the opposite bank.

The return passes the intake weir for the Dawson Falls road end services, some small waterfalls and babbling brooks, before rejoining the Kapuni Loop Track to Dawson Falls.

European History

The intake weir is an ingenious blend of old and new technologies, with the original valve wheel still in place.

Wilkies Pools are named after W and F Wilkie, brothers who farmed near Manaia Road. Having discovered the falls, Thomas Dawson billeted the following night with the Wilkie Brothers, who the next day joined him to view the falls. On exploring further, they came to the smaller pools and Dawson chipped the name ‘Wilkie’ onto one of the nearby rocks with his prospecting hammer.

Details

Feature

Value

Info

Organisation

DOC Taranaki

Central government organisation

Location

North Island ▷ Taranaki ▷ Stratford

Categories

Walking
Free

Directions

To Coordinates

Coordinates

-39.3229448772408

174.104254150391

Latitude
-39.3229448772408
Longitude
174.104254150391

Feature	Value	Info
Track Length	1km to 3km Track Length What is the physical length of this track? 1km to 3km	Track Length What is the physical length of this track? 1km to 3km
Track Duration	1 to 2 hours Track Duration How long does it take to walk this track on average? 1 to 2 hours	Track Duration How long does it take to walk this track on average? 1 to 2 hours
Track Difficulty	Moderate walk Track Difficulty Considering the track's terrain, safety, facilities - how hard is this walk to complete? Moderate walk	Track Difficulty Considering the track's terrain, safety, facilities - how hard is this walk to complete? Moderate walk
Payment Requirement	Free access/participation Payment Requirement Is there a cost for this experience or is it free? Free access/participation The experience costs no money to access or take part in.	Payment Requirement Is there a cost for this experience or is it free? Free access/participation The experience costs no money to access or take part in.
Large Vehicle Access	Large vehicle accessible Large Vehicle Access Can large vehicles such as motorhomes, housebuses and caravans gain access? Large vehicle accessible The site is accessible with large vehicles such as motorhomes and 5th wheelers.	Large Vehicle Access Can large vehicles such as motorhomes, housebuses and caravans gain access? Large vehicle accessible The site is accessible with large vehicles such as motorhomes and 5th wheelers.
Disabled Access	No disabled access Disabled Access Does this location provide disabled access? No disabled access This location does not provide access for wheelchairs.	Disabled Access Does this location provide disabled access? No disabled access This location does not provide access for wheelchairs.
Crowd Factor	Some people Crowd Factor How crowded is this place usually? Some people This place usually draws a average amount of people. You won’t have difficulties to move along, but you won’t have this place to yourself, either.	Crowd Factor How crowded is this place usually? Some people This place usually draws a average amount of people. You won’t have difficulties to move along, but you won’t have this place to yourself, either.
Track Managing Organisation	DOC Managed Track Managing Organisation What type of organisation operates this walking track? DOC Managed This track is managed by the Department of Conservation. DOC is a New Zealand government organisation.	Track Managing Organisation What type of organisation operates this walking track? DOC Managed This track is managed by the Department of Conservation. DOC is a New Zealand government organisation.