Hike across Three Firs Pass

Town Paopao is the starting point of this trip. You can get here by bus or hitchhike not to have to go back or be possibly able to improvise more.

There is probably no proper map available. There are only two ways sketched in Lonely Planet – inland road and a way rising to the east, from where you can continue over the ridge to Vaiare or to pass Three Firs. In fact, there are much more small roads here, so you will rather guess which one is the right one. It is important to be still rising :-) and head either to the north, if you want to get to Vaiare or to the south, if you want to walk our way.

You will walk in fertile agricultural landscape and there will be plenty of citrus trees around.

After more than a half-hour walk you get to the pineapple fields, from where there are nice views especially of Mt. Rotui, the symbol of northern part of the island. Here is the most important part of the journey – finding entry point into the forest trail. Most likely you do not succeed without advice from locals. There is unfortunately no marking.

The path through the forest is not very clear, but it leads along the contour line, so it is practically not very physically demanding. High humidity and heat, however, make it significantly harder.

Sometimes you will pass places with huge boulders fallen from the ridges across the path. The path through the woods is unfortunately without views, so the only attraction is here the observation of local vegetation.

After an hour and a half you get out of the woods to the lookout Tree Firs pass. Unfortunately, the firs are really here and block the views a little. If you look east, you can see the mountain Mouaputa.

Also from here, like from Belvedere, you will see a beautiful ridge.

Now, however, you must decide how you will continue. Three Firs pass is situated at the most famous circular tourist route – Opunohu Valley loop. You can either continue to the direction of the Belvedere viewpoint, or descend to the pass below Mount Rotui, where you can link to the mountain road and go either to Paopao (close the circuit) or to the bay Opunohu.

If you decide to descend, so you can enjoy not only the view of the bay Cook, but also of pineapple fields that look out quite impenetrable.

During the descent you will certainly be impressed by the house built on a perfectly idyllic place in the green under the top of Mount Rotui.

From the bottom you can clearly see that Three Firs Pass is pretty bland pass under a massive rock wall.

Then you just need to only descent a short way to the coastal road.