Tauhara, Taupō
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…
- Distance
- 2.9km
- Time
- 2.5-3hr return
- Grade
- Easy/Moderate
Find your trail
Taupo
Oturere Hut, via Waihohonu Track, Tongariro National Park
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…
- Distance
- 13.5km
- Time
- 5-6hr
- Grade
- Moderate
Tongariro Alpine Crossing, Tongariro National Park
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…
- Distance
- 19.4km
- Time
- 7-8hr
- Grade
- Moderate
Lake Surprise, Tongariro National Park
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…
- Distance
- 4.5km
- Time
- 4-5hr return
- Grade
- Easy
Oturere Hut via Mt Tongariro, Tongariro National Park
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…
- Distance
- 32.8km
- Time
- Car park to Mt Tongariro, 3-4hr; To Oturere Hut, 3-4hr; To car park via Pukekaikiore, 6-7hr
- Grade
- Moderate
Waipakihi Hut loop, Kaimanawa Forest Park
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…
- Time
- Two days. Car park to Waipakihi Hut, 5hr; To car park via Urchin, 7hr
- Grade
- Easy/Moderate
Waipakihi Hut, Kaimanawa Forest Park
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…
- Distance
- 12.9km via Umukarikari
- Time
- Waipakihi Hut via Umu-karikari, 4-5hr; Via Urchin, 8-10hr; from Waipakihi Road, two days to reach the valley head
- Grade
- Moderate
Tongariro Northern Circuit, Tongariro National Park
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.…
- Distance
- 42.9km
- Time
- Village to Mangatepopo Hut, 3hr; Mangatepopo to Oturere Hut, 5hr; Oturere to Waihohonu Hut, 3hr; Waihohonu to Whakapapa Village, 5hr
- Grade
- Moderate
Rotopaunga via North Crater, Tongariro National Park
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,…
- Distance
- 21.5km
- Time
- Road end to North Crater, 3-4hr; Crater to road end, via Rotopaunga, 6-8hr
- Grade
- Moderate
Round the Mountain Track, Tongaririo National Park
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…
- Distance
- 66km
- Time
- Ohakune Mountain Rd to Mangaehuehu Hut, 4hr; to Rangipo Hut, 5-6hr; to Waihohonu Hut, 5hr; to Whakapapa, 5-6hr; to Whakapapaiti Hut, 2.5-3hr; to Mangaturuturu Hut, 5-6hr; to Ohakune Mountain Rd, 2hr
- Grade
- Moderate
Whakapapaiti Valley and Silica Rapids Upper tracks, Tongariro National Park
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.…
- Distance
- 15.1km
- Time
- 5hr
- Grade
- Easy/Moderate
Pureora, Pureora Forest Park
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…
- Distance
- 2.53km
- Time
- 3hr return
- Grade
- Easy/Moderate
Whakapapaiti Hut, Tongariro National Park
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…
- Distance
- 7.83km
- Time
- 2.5-3hr
- Grade
- Easy
Mt Ruapehu Crater Lake via Mangaturuturu Ridge, Tongariro National Park
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…
- Distance
- 14.6km
- Time
- Bruce Road to Mangaturuturu Ridge, 6hr; Ridge to Crater Lake, 5-7hr
- Grade
- Moderate/Difficult
Upper Tama via Mt Tongariro, Tongariro National Park
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…
- Distance
- 23.6km
- Time
- 10hr
- Grade
- Moderate
Castle Rock, Kaimanawa Forest Park
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…
- Distance
- 5.81km to Castle Rock
- Time
- 5hr return
- Grade
- Easy
Danahars Track Circuit, Tongariro Forest Conservation Area
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…
- Distance
- 26.5km
- Time
- 9-10hr
- Grade
- Moderate
Mt Tongariro via Tama Lakes,Tongariro National Park
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…
- Distance
- 31.6km
- Time
- 10-12hr
- Grade
- Moderate
Castle Rock, Kaimanawa Forest Park
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…
- Distance
- 5.81km
- Time
- 5hr return
- Grade
- Easy
Waipakihi Hut via Waipakihi River, Kaimanawa Forest Park
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…
- Distance
- 35.3km
- Time
- 2-3 days
- Grade
- Moderate
Timber Trail, Pureora Forest Park
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…
- Distance
- 85km
- Time
- 2 days by bike; 4-5 days by foot
- Grade
- Easy/Moderate
Ten Man Hut, Tongariro Forest Conservation Area
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…
- Distance
- 21.2km
- Time
- 3-4hr to hut
- Grade
- Moderate
Lupton Hut, Tongariro National Park
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…
- Distance
- 2.77km
- Time
- 1.5hr
- Grade
- Easy
Hauhungaroa Traverse, Pureora Forest Park
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…
- Distance
- 25.8km
- Time
- 12-16hr
- Grade
- Easy
Stanton Memorial, Tongariro National Park
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…
- Distance
- 7.61km
- Time
- 5-6hr
- Grade
- Moderate
Lower Matakuhia Hut, Waipunga Conservation Area
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…
- Distance
- 9.31km
- Time
- 5.5-7hr
- Grade
- Moderate
Summit Plateau, Tongariro National Park
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…
- Distance
- 2.58km
- Time
- 5-7hr
- Grade
- Moderate
Upper Matakuhia Hut, Waipunga Conservation Area
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…
- Distance
- 6.05km
- Time
- 2-3hr
- Grade
- Easy/Moderate
Mt Ngauruhoe, Tongariro National Park
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.…
- Distance
- 7.5km one way
- Time
- 3-5hr to summit
- Grade
- Moderate
Tama Lakes, Tongariro National Park
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…
- Distance
- 7.7km
- Time
- 2-3hr
- Grade
- Easy
Mt Tongariro (returning via Hardman’s Ridge), Tongariro National Park
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…
- Distance
- 15.5km
- Time
- 6-8hr
- Grade
- Moderate
Tama Lakes via Waihohonu Hut, Tongariro National Park
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…
- Distance
- 27.5km
- Time
- 8-9hr
- Grade
- Moderate
Zekes Hut, Hihitahi Forest Sanctuary
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,…
- Distance
- 5.22km
- Time
- 3hr return
- Grade
- Easy/Moderate
Cascade Hut, Kaimanawa Forest Park
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…
- Distance
- 10.6km
- Time
- 5-6hr
- Grade
- Moderate
Lake Surprise, Tongariro National 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…
- Distance
- 4.3km
- Time
- 2hr
- Grade
- Easy