An accessible trip through virgin podocarp forest that rewards trampers with panoramic views of Lake Taupō, the Waikato District, Mt Pirongia and the Kaimai Range. By Stuart Hill The…
There are few ‘forest sanctuaries’ and those that exist have often been designated due to conservation activism. A trip into Zekes Hut takes in the Hihitahi Forest Sanctuary, between…
Begin by crossing a large wooden bridge to access the Lower Silica Rapids Track and continue straight at the fork. Follow the gravel track through beech trees and native…
Unlike the neighbouring Kaweka Ranges, which have more than 30 huts and bivouacs, Kaimanawa Forest Park has less than a handful. Of the four public huts, Waipakihi is perhaps…
Whakapapa Village to Mangatepopo Hut 8.5km, 3hr From Whakapapa Village, head north on the heavily eroded Mangatepopo Track. It’s harder work than the distance and time imply: compared to other…
Leaving from the Waitonga Falls car park on Ohakune Mountain Road, the track climbs gently through beech forest to the junction with the Old Blyth Track. Here, the trail…
The silence in Tongariro National Park can be confronting. Away from the park’s busy pockets, it becomes so complete that if you stop crunching over gravel and scree to…
The spectacular Whakapapaiti Valley and its namesake hut is a fantastic destination for an easy day or overnight trip. Typically accessed via the Whakapapaiti Valley Track (2.5hr from Whakapapa…
From the northern car park at the Opepe Scenic Reserve, begin on the Opepe Northern Track, heading in a clockwise direction. The trail is immediately immersed in mature native…
Umukarikari is both a subrange of the Kaimanawa Range and the name of the high point on the range, and there are two approaches to it: a short or…
Just to the north-east of Lake Taupō and little more than a 10-minute drive from the town itself lies Tauhara, a 1088m dormant lava dome that rises high above…
Perhaps the best access is from the Desert Road, on the track to Waihohonu Hut, then north along the poled route that leads across high, barren ground to the…
Renamed the Tongariro Alpine Crossing in 2007, the iconic day walk is responsible for more rescues than any other in New Zealand. In good weather, however, it’s hard to…
You can get a short taster of the Round-The-Mountain Track with a day or overnight trip to Lake Surprise. The walk begins off the Ohakune Mountain Road and climbs…
This is not another account of a nose-to-tail march across Tongariro’s Alpine Crossing, but an alternative off-track adventure avoiding the crowds and visiting some hidden and untouched waypoints encircling…
This classic tops trip quickly takes you above the bushline for stunning volcano views – without the traffic found at neighbouring Tongariro National Park. The wide open spaces enable…
The Waipakihi flows languidly through tussock-covered flats with a sense of grand, open country and mountains high above on either side. One of the principal valleys of Kaimanawa Forest…
From Ngauruhoe Place in Whakapapa Village, the track to Taranaki Falls begins – take the upper track, which is shorter and sidles across open landscapes offering views of Ngauruhoe.…
The motivation for this trip was to tread new ground in that most famous of places: Tongariro National Park. Hundreds of people walk the Tongariro Alpine Crossing each day,…
This trip usually takes 4-5 days. From the Ohakune Mountain Road, the track climbs briefly before sidling through mountain beech forest and across the subalpine wetlands of Rotokawa. Viewed…
From the forest to the moon From the barren flanks of Mt Ruapehu to an idyllic forest-clad valley, the Whakapapaiti Valley Track traverses an interesting variety of terrain in a day.…
While the low-angled volcanic cone of Pureora (1165m) may be a relatively minor summit, its panoramic views are some of the best in the North Island. From the summit…
A night at Whakapapaiti The trail to Whakapapaiti Hut is well marked and easily navigable. The hut is part of the Round the Mountain Track – the multi-day walk…
Perched at 2600m, Mt Ruapehu’s crater lake is the focal point of any hike to the summit area. Accessible year-round, it comes alive in winter when pristine white snow…
A night off the volcanic ant trail The ants were marching. That was all I could think as I was walking up to Mangatepopo Hut. Since my last trip to…
One of the best views of the Ruapehu massif is from Castle Rock, a fortress-like outcrop along the Kaimanawa Forest Park Walkway. The name is quite likely locally bestowed…
Criss-crossed by old logging roads, the Danahars circuit can be done as a (long) day tramp but, as navigation can be challenging, two days allows a leisurely pace and…
There is still scope to travel off track and experience Ngauruhoe without following in the footsteps of an ant-like trail of other walkers. Set out from Whakapapa Village along…
One of the best views of the Ruapehu massif is from Castle Rock, a fortress-like outcrop along the Kaimanawa Forest Park Walkway. The name is quite likely locally bestowed…
It’s worth taking three days to immerse yourself in the beauty of the Waipakihi. If you’re looking for an alternative to the busy Tongariro National Park and want to…
The Timber Trail is an 85km walking and biking path stretching from Pureora Village in the north to Ongarue in the south. Utilising historic bush tramways, old bulldozer and…
This is a great way to experience Lake Taupo while avoiding the hustle of the town. The K2K heads west from the lakeside village of Kinloch over the peninsula…
The tracks in this area are not signposted or straightforward, so navigation skills are required. From Owhango, cross the bridge over the Whakapapa River and along the gravel road…
For a family outing in Tongariro National Park, the privately-owned Lupton Hut is a good option. Owned by Wanganui High School, the hut can be used by the general…
The first stage of this walk is 6.5km to Hauhungaroa Hut. The track climbs steeply through predominantly tawa forest. Once the crest of the range is reached, the going…
From the Scoria Flats car park head due south towards a distinctive rocky outcrop, clearly visible against the skyline – Pt 1750m on the map and known locally as…
The map shows the track to Lower Matakuhia Hut starting about 800m from the road. It,s not at all obvious when you get there where the track is so…
Climbing to Mt Ruapehu’s Summit Plateau is a great introduction to winter camping and climbing. From Iwikau Village a service road runs from Top of the Bruce up to…
Signposted from the now non-existent Matakuhia Saddle Hut, the track weaves its way through thick stands of toi toi, over large treefalls and a few streams. The final hour…
Take the popular Tongariro Alpine Crossing Track to South Crater, from where you can begin the climb of Ngauruhoe. In summer, is a rather straightforward scramble up the loose scoria.…
Although a much quieter and less energy-sapping tramp than the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, the walk to Upper and Lower Tama lakes involves an exposed ridge so it is important…
Few winter peaks are as accessible as Mt Tongariro. Reached on a Great Walk standard track, a return climb can be achieved in a few hours. With crampons and…
From Waihohonu Hut you can see both Mts Ngauruhoe and Ruapehu. It’s a stunning view of two of the North Island’s iconic summits. But the view also encompasses a…
The cute four-bunk Zekes Hut is the only shelter in the Hihitahi Forest Sanctuary, one of the most important forest remnants in the country. The track initially follows farmland,…
Have an overnight adventure with a foray into the remote and rugged Kaimanawa Range. The track starts out in good condition and within minutes of leaving the car park…
Get a short taster of the Round-The-Mountain Track with a day or overnight trip up to Lake Surprise. From the road-end the track climbs over several outlying mountain flanks…