Maps and Routes
Walking Track information:
Iconic Full day Walks
Tongariro Alpine Crossing (full day)
Time: 6-9 hours
The Tongariro Alpine Crossing is described as one of the best one-day hikes in New Zealand. The Tongariro Alpine Crossing trek takes you from alpine meadows to mountain summit with stunning volcanic features along the way. You will walk across a lunar landscape of craters, scattered pumice, active volcanoes, mountain springs, lava flows, emerald lakes, piles of scoria and statue-like mounds of volcanic desert. It will take about 8-9 hours to allow time for photos and any side tracks; the summit of Mt Tongariro is 1967 m and Mt Ngauruhoe (Mt Doom, for all the Lord of the Rings fans) at 2287m above sea level.
Lake Rotopounamu (2 hours) + Trout Centre and/or Tokaanu Hot Pools
Time: 2 hours
Rotopounamu (‘Greenstone Lake’) nestles on the side of Mt Pihanga. This beautiful lake is a special favourite of tree lovers, birdwatchers, walkers and swimmers. Beginning opposite the carpark the track winds gently uphill. At the junction the track to the left goes to Ten Minute Beach which is a pleasant picnic and swimming spot in summer. The walk into the lake takes about 20 minutes. To walk around the lake turn right at the junction and follow a short section of metalled track before dropping down towards Five Minute Beach. Here a broad tree stump provides a good spot to view the lake.
Rotopounamu was formed by a landslide about 10,000 years ago. It is nine metres deep and covers one square kilometre. Long Beach sweeps along the eastern side of the lake and is an ideal spot for a picnic or rest stop. There is a toilet here. From here the track continues to the northern shore where three of Rotopounamu’s four tributary streams enter the lake. The lake has no visible outflow and possibly drains via an underground stream or seepage. Continuing on, you will pass Ten Minute Beach and soon return to the track junction. From here it is downhill to the carpark.
Tupapakurua Falls
Time: 4-5 hours
A return tramp from National Park Village for fit/experienced and adequately equipped trampers to a less visited area. Continue past the Taranaki Lookout through dense bush with some large trees & steep terrain to a viewing point on the edge of a small canyon. The Tupapakurua Falls is a small stream dropping 60 metres to the canyon floor.
Ruapehu Crater Lake
Time: 5-7 hours
New Zealand’s most accessible live volcano is Mt Ruapehu and you can climb this mountain this summer. You can ride the chairlifts up the mountain and enjoy unsurpassed views over the central North Island. The Wild Side (a day over at the Turoa side of the Mountain)
Lake Rotokura
Time: 1 hour
The first lake passed on the track is Dry Lake. A variety of native and exotic waterfowl – dabchicks, mallard ducks, paradise ducks, grey ducks and Australasian coots – can be seen on this manmade lake that is surrounded by rushes, swampland and beech forest. Flat, grassed areas above the lake are perfect for family picnics. The track continues on past Dry Lake to Lake Rotokura. This lake is surrounded by ancient beech forest and on a clear day Mount Ruapehu is reflected in the lake’s calm waters.
The beech forest supports plenty of bird life. Native birds such as tui, kaka, bellbird, fantail and North Island robin are commonly seen or heard along the track that circles the lake. Rotokura is tapu (sacred healing waters) to Ngati Rangi, the local Maori people or tangata whenua. Please respect this by not eating at or near Rotokura. Fishing is also prohibited.
Waitonga Falls and Mangawhero Falls Walk and picnic Lunch
Time: 2 hours
Tongariro National Park’s highest waterfall, the 39 metres Waitonga Falls are reached via a well-formed track through mountain beech and kaikawaka (mountain cedar) forest. On a calm day the southern face of Ruapehu is reflected in Rotokawa, the pools of a ridge-top alpine bog over which the track passes. On a clear day there are magnificent views of Mount Ruapehu and the surrounding countryside to the southwest. This track is rich in plant life with mistletoe on the beech trees and green hooded orchids and sun orchids along the banks.
In the alpine bog sundews and bladderworts may be seen in addition to the usual larger vegetation of the bog, especially when flowering. Old Coach Road (2-7 hours) The Ohakune Old Coach Road links a number of fascinating pieces of New Zealand’s rail heritage in a journey through a spectacular part of Tongariro National Park. The road formed an integral link between the two rail heads between 1906 and 1908, allowing through journeys by horse and coach before the rail was completed. The Hapuawhenua Viaduct was one of the final components in completing the North Island main trunk rail, and is now linked into this walk through a new section of track.
Whakapapa Visitor Centre Based Walks
Silica Rapids
Time: 2.5 hours
Part of a pleasant sub-alpine walk close to Whakapapa Begins 250 metres above Whakapapa Visitor Centre. Through mountain beech forest, the track travels alongside a cascading stream, arriving at the creamy-white terraces of Silica Rapids. Subalpine plants, amid a mixture of swamp and tussock country, feature around the track as it returns to the Bruce Road 2.5 km above the starting point. This highly varied walk reveals a range of vegetation types and also has spectacular views of Ruapehu and Ngauruhoe on a clear day. 7 km return via Bruce Road.
Taranaki Falls
Time: 2 hour
Begins 100 metres below Whakapapa Visitor Centre at Ngauruhoe Place. Tumbling 20 metres over the edge of a large lava flow, which erupted from Ruapehu 15,000 years ago, Taranaki Falls plunge into a boulder-ringed pool. From below the falls there are spectacular views into the water-worn gorges of the Wairere Stream.
Whakapapanui Walk
Time: 2 hour
Begins 250 metres above Whakapapa Visitor Centre. Take care not to confuse the Whakapapanui and Whakapapaiti track signs. About 10-15 minutes along the track, the Whakapapanui walk branches to the right and heads down stream. Water-logged clearings are passed as the track follows the Whakapapanui Stream. Here, beech forest affected by die-back and storm damage is slowly regenerating. 6 km return via same track or Bruce Road.
Tama Lakes
Time: 5-6 hours
Begin 100 metres below Whakapapa Visitor Centre at Ngauruhoe Place – an extension of the Taranaki Falls track. After leaving the Taranaki Falls Walk, the track crosses undulating tussock country and alpine herb fields. Further on, the track branches to the left to Tama Lakes, while the main track continues on to Waihohonu Hut. There is an overview of the lower lake (1200 metres), and then the track climbs steeply to the upper lake (1314 metres). Tama Lakes occupy several old explosion craters on the Tama Saddle between Ruapehu and Ngauruhoe. There are no formed tracks and the descent to both lakes is via steep gullies.
Tama Saddle acts as a funnel for prevailing westerly winds. Windproof clothing is recommended in this area. 17 km, return via same track. There is no bridge at this point and it may not be possible to cross safely at times of high flow. Further down the valley, the Mangahuia Track is passed on the left. Shortly below the turn-off, the track sidles around bush-clad ridges before joining the lower Silica Rapids Track 45 minutes from Whakapapa village.
Whakapapaiti
Time: 4-5 hours
The Whakapapaiti Valley track begins 5 km above Whakapapa Village at Scoria Flat on Bruce Road. From Bruce Road, follow the Round the Mountain Track across to a moraine ridge for spectacular views of the Whakapapaiti Valley and surrounding country. From there, zig-zag down into the valley to turn off at the junction of the Whakapapaiti Track. Winding through stunted beech forest, the track makes its way to the Whakapapaiti Hut. From here, the track to Whakapapa village continues down the valley, crossing the Whakapapaiti Stream 10-15 minutes below the hut. Other Walks
Ohinetonga Track
Time: 2-3 hours
This track winds through forest containing a variety of attractive scenery, the Ohinetonga Lagoon and some excellent examples of native trees. There are picnic areas and good places to swim along the river.
Whakahoro
6000 acres of privately owned farmland, 1100 of tracked native bush, the Whanganui National Park with famous trails such as The Bridge to Nowhere and the Matemateonga track means there is no shortage of places to hike! There are walks suitable for all ages and abilities with varying scenery, track distance and difficulty from 4 day hikes to an hour or two.
