The Pinnacles Hut hike is one of the best day hikes in New Zealand. Seriously, this epic hike is criminally underrated. If you do one hike in the Coromandel Peninsula, make it this one!
The Pinnacles Hut hike was one of the first hikes I did in New Zealand. It had been a while since I had been out in the mountains, and I was longing for a seriously good hike. And boy, did the Pinnacles hike check that box.
It’s no secret that New Zealand offers some of the best hiking in the world, and this hike is the perfect example of why. The trail takes you through Jurassic scenery, climbs through the rainforest and rewards hikers with the most spectacular panoramic views.
In this guide, I’ve shared all you need to know about the Pinnacles Hut hike in the Coromandel.
About the Pinnacles Hut Hike
Also known as Kauaeranga Kauri Trail, the Pinnacles Walk is among the best hikes on the Coromandel Peninsula.
The trail is in the Coromandel Forest Park, and it takes a while to reach there (which is probably why the hike isn’t more popular).
It’s about a 50-minute drive from the town of Thames. You drive through a forest along windy, unsealed roads. It’s quite a challenging drive, and I wouldn’t recommend it unless you’re very confident.
There’s a parking lot at the trailhead and several campsites in the area.
One thing to note is that there are two different routes to the Pinnacles Hut – the Webb Creek Track and the Billygoat Track. The Billygoat track is longer, harder and sometimes requires crossing the Kauaeranga River (if the water levels are high).
When I was there, the Billygoat Track was actually closed, so I had no choice but to take the Webb Creek route.
So, which one to do? It’s possible to do the hike as a loop. You can walk up the Webb Creek Track and return via the Billygoat Track. The trails connect at the Hydro Camp close to the Hut, so you can easily return a different way.
However, I’ve heard the Billygoat route is a little more challenging, especially after wet weather. It also adds a fair bit of distance to the hike (about 1.8 miles/3 km).
The remainder of this post is based on my experience hiking to the Pinnacles via the Webb Creek trail.
Overview of the hike:
Length: 8.8 miles (14km) (Webb Creek Track)
Elevation gain: 2552 feet (777 metres)
Terrain: Rock and dirt
Difficulty: Hard
Type: Out and back
Time: 6-8 hours
Staying overnight in the Pinnacles Hut
While it’s possible to do the Pinnacles walk in one day, many choose to break it up over two and spend a night in the Pinnacles Hut.
This means you can watch sunrise and/or sunset from the panoramic viewpoint, something I wish I had been able to do.
It takes about two or three hours from the trailhead to reach the hut (depending on your pace). From the hut, it’s another hour’s slog up steep steps and incline to reach the peak.
The Pinnacles Hut has 80 beds, and you need to book in advance.
How difficult is the Pinnacles Hut hike?
The Pinnacles Hut hike is challenging and certainly one of the most strenuous hikes I have done in New Zealand.
The out-and-back trail is 8.8 miles (14km) and incredibly steep. Over a short distance, you gain around 2,552ft in elevation. There are also quite a few rocky parts that require some basic scrambling and lots of steps.
The hike starts off relatively flat and could easily fool people into thinking it’s a straightforward hike, but it’s not. Once you reach the hut, there is another relentless staircase leading to the peak, plus boulders and ladders.
Due to the ladders and scrambling at the end, I wouldn’t recommend this hike to someone who has a fear of heights or vertigo.
If you’re in relatively good shape and don’t mind a bit of scrambling/climbing ladders, this hike should be doable for you.
A description of the Pinnacles Hike
Enjoy the start of the hike as it’s by far the easiest part! You’ll walk along a beautiful forest trail, cross several bridges and gradually start your incline.
Keep an eye out for signs to the Billygoat Waterfall Lookout. It adds about five minutes to the hike, but it’s absolutely worth the effort.
After this, the real climb begins. There are quite a few rocky steps as you make your way up past the treeline. After a couple of hours, you’ll reach the Pinnacles Hut, which is a great place to stop for a rest and use the bathroom.
As tempting as it might be to call it a day, I highly recommend continuing to the peak.
After the hut, there’s a bit of respite as you walk along to the next challenge – the endless steps! Honestly, I felt like I was climbing these steps forever. They were relentless. In total, it took me about forty minutes to climb the steps.
After this, you’ll need to climb up ladders and over boulders, which have metal rungs to help you up.
The views at the top are breathtaking and make the hike entirely worthwhile. For miles and miles, you can see mountains covered in forests with the ocean in the distance. It felt a bit like Jurassic Park!
On the way down, be sure to make a stop at the Hydro Camp. It’s an excellent spot for a picnic and where you can connect to the Billygoat Trail (if returning that way).
It took me just over two hours to return to the trailhead. The rocks can get very slippery in the rain, so be careful on the way down.
Where to stay for hiking the Pinnacles Hut hike?
If you have a van or are happy to camp, the Department of Conservation has some cheap campsites right by the trail. I stayed at the Totara Flat campsite and walked to the trailhead in the morning. You must pay a small fee (it varies by season), which can be paid through the DoC website.
Alternatively, the nearest town with suitable accommodation would be the town of Thames. It’s a solid 45-minute drive from Thames to the hike up a narrow, unsealed road, but it’s easily doable in a day.
FAQ for the Pinnacles Hut hike
Are there toilets on the hike?
Yes. There are toilets at the start of the trail and at the hut. You can use these facilities even if you’re not staying there.
What to pack for the hike?
As with any hike, it’s always important to be prepared, especially when doing a track as challenging as the Pinnacles. Here’s a rough packing list for a day hike:
- At least 2 litres of water
- First aid kit
- Lunch and extra snacks
- Electrolytes
- Waterproof clothes
- Hiking shoes
- Layers
- Cap
- Suncream
- Bug repellent
- Sunglasses
- Phone (make sure you have the map downloaded in advance)
- Walking sticks if you benefit from there (there are a lot of steps which can be tough on the knees)
Do you need to book the hit in advance?
Yes, you must book the hut before you arrive. You can do this on the DOC’s website.
Summary: Is the Pinnacles Hike in the Coromandel Peninsula worth it?
Yes, the Pinnacles Hike is one of the best day hikes in New Zealand. I didn’t do much research on the hike beforehand, but it completely blew me away.
When it comes to must-do hikes in New Zealand, I would argue that it’s up there with the Tongariro Alpine Crossing. Yes, you read that right.
It’s a challenging hike, but the views are honestly sublime. It’s like no other hike I did in New Zealand.
