Wangapeka Track, Mountain hiking trail in Kahurangi National Park, New Zealand

The Wangapeka Track is a multi-day hiking route through Kahurangi National Park, passing through dense beech forests, mountain streams, and crossing two high passes. The trail connects Rolling River to Wangapeka Road, taking hikers through varied terrain and elevations.

The trail began in 1861 following gold discoveries in the Wangapeka River valley, with miners building it under provincial council funding. This early route opened access to new goldfields and shaped regional development.

The track's name comes from the Wangapeka River, whose valley Māori used as a route across the landscape. Gold miners built the trail in the 1860s, and the Tabernacle, an A-frame shelter from 1889, still marks the junction of the Taipō and Karamea rivers.

The route runs 59 km from the Wangapeka goldfields west of Tapawera to Little Wanganui on the West Coast, crossing the Wangapeka and Little Wanganui saddles, both over 1,000 m. Walkers usually take four to six days. Most of the way lies in river valleys under forest, with open tussock only at Stag Flat and the Little Wanganui Saddle.

The trail offers chances to spot the rare whio blue duck in its natural setting. This species appears on New Zealand currency, reflecting the importance placed on protecting these habitats.