Wilkies Pool loop track, Te Papa-Kura-o-Taranaki

We walk the through the forest of twisted kāmahi trees hanging with ferns and mosses, aka "Goblin forest", to the small lava formed Wilkies Pools (named after brothers who farmed locally). The Wilkies Pools loop is a 1.9km track which takes approximately 1 hour 20 minutes, and while the first 900 metres is buggy friendly, after the pools the track has steps , boulders and small water crossings. You pass numerous small waterfalls, bubbling springs and the intake weir for the power station. There is no bridge across this stream the lower crossing of Kapuni Stream which the DOC rangers advised is impassable after rain. Te Papa-Kura-o-Taranaki means "the highly regarded and treasured lands of Taranaki" (formerly known as Egmont National Park).