A litre or so of water for the track will see you right, and you’ll probably find it easier to carry it in a. It’s not uncommon for people to hike up the mountain either before sunrise or after sunset to enjoy their breakfast or dinner on the mountain. There are also views along the way which keeps you motivated as you navigate the gnarly track full of roots, rocks, and other obstacles (nothing overly difficult). You’re now about two thirds of the way up the mountain. The start of the trail take you over the fence. The first part of the track traverses across operational farmland (as is the case with many tracks in New Zealand). Your email address will not be published. This is a 1.5 hour hike - ⦠There is a space for you to climb down and dip your feet in if the desire takes you. For those with vertigo, don’t worry too much – my Mum has completed this many times (and she has vertigo!). Don’t let them scare you off, and just continue to follow the bright yellow highlighted posts that indicate the walking route through the farm. The popular walking track to the summit of Mount Tauhara, near Taupo, is again open to the public. Like many other areas of geographic importance in New Zealand, Mt Tauhara and its surrounding land is looked after by the local tribe. This post will give you all the details you need to know about the hike. Don’t despair – if you stay generally left you’ll end up at the trig point at the summit. You could hitchhike, but it’d likely take several rides and you’ve got to walk to get to the Taupo hitchhiking spots. By crikey I’m glad I did this hike. The Mt. Watch your step! On foot: This is how I got to and from there (running), but I wouldn’t recommend it. The mountain is often used as a focal point for light aircraft and gliders to circumnavigate on their scenic flights. In places on this track, there are cliffs and high drop-offs and thermal areas are changeable by nature, so stay behind barriers, keep to the track, and keep children safe. An information board is there to guide you, eg a suggested round trip of 3 to 3.5h. 1 hr 20 mins from Taupo Lava flows, an active crater, steam vents, emerald-coloured lakes and magnificent views combine to make the Tongariro Alpine Crossing hike an unforgettable walking journey. Tuesday, 26 January 2016, 3:17 pm | Tauhara Mountain Trust. Mount Tauhara, Taupo: See 33 reviews, articles, and 29 photos of Mount Tauhara, ranked No.34 on Tripadvisor among 67 attractions in Taupo. The walking track up to the 1088 metre summit, and its stunning view of Lake Taupo, has been a popular attraction for visitors to Taupo with hundreds making the climb. With panoramic views of Lake Taupo and surroundings, you won’t be spending all day on this out and back trail. Rating?1 As you can see from a couple of photos in this post I had lots of cow friends on the way up but they moved away as I got closer (none charged at me etc.). The next section is hard grind, ascending steeply (although not quite as steep as the first slope on the farmland). Racecourse, Centennial Park Aerodrome, Lakeside International Dragway, Warmington Drilling Ltd, Shepperton Consolidated Ltd, Department of Conservation, Tauhara Mountain Walking Track, Tauhara Golf Course, Titos Granite Warehouse, The descent is all downhill, and so can be a little hard on the knees. The hike won’t take up more than three hours of your day (not including transit time), so it’s a great way to fill in a day with other Taupo activities like the Maori rock carvings tour. This is hard to explain, but the picture above paints 1000 words. Why not go and check out the video that goes along with this post which I’ve just uploaded on my YouTube channel… If you like it, why not support me by subscribing to my channel while you’re there! The track can be accessed via Mountain Road, about 3.5km / 2mi down State Highway 5 after the intersection with State Highway 1. Itâs marked on Maps.me (see below), and while the trail isnât marked with orange trail markers you shouldnât have any issues with getting lost when you reach the bush line. Once you get under the canopy of the forest, you’ll see that while the track is obvious to follow the roots are gnarly at times, so it’s not a straight forward hike where you can daydream without tripping over. They’re pretty intimidating if you’re not used to being so close to them as they won’t run away from you well in advance. Incline5: On Maps.me there’s a 528 metre elevation gain, and my Strava has 529 metre elevation gain. You’ll then hope over one more fence (there are stairs) which takes you up to the Tauhara’s treeline. Take the route that looks the most inviting to you. There are a number of side trails which, if you aren’t paying attention, can result in a wrong turn or two. Tauhara Maunga â Open for Public Access. At a maximum three hour time commitment (plus transit time), the Mount Tauhara walk is not a large chunk of your day, but also gives you an epic appreciation of Lake Taupo and its surroundings. Just beyond the stile are two green water tanks, partially obscured by the bush. Mount Tauhara is located on the shores of beautiful Lake Taupo (the southern hemisphere’s largest freshwater lake) in the Central North Island region of New Zealand. The track is formed and relatively well maintained, but don’t expect to find trail markers along the way. Beautiful view on the hill and nice track Turning off the Napier Taupo Road there is a carpark and sign posts to the track and the summit. From the stream, keep following the main track. Given its proximity to Taupo, the lake, and the views from the top you can’t go wrong. The summit is 1088m above sea level. This was the scene I had on the way back down the hill. Details | Map | How To Get There | Trip Report. You’ll stroll along a plateau (with smaller climbs) for a little while and then head towards an electric fence (there might be cattle on the other side). The feeling of walking through these sections is awesome, with the walls of dirt above your head! This track is narrow, drops off in some places and you’ll find yourself brushing up against the bushes along the way. You know by now I want you to do this hike. That was just the information I needed as I made my way to the steps going over the first fence. I’ll leave more details in the trip report about how to reach the bush line. I recommend you hike the track in the daylight first, to get a feel for the track. If you want better photos of the lake, go earlier in the day. On a clear day, the summit offers excellent views over the Volcanic Plateau, encompassing the entirety of Lake Taupo in the southwest. The mountain is 1,088m / 0.67mi above sea level, and on a clear day you can get panoramic views of the central north island, including Mounts Ruapehu, Tongariro and Ngaruahoe in the Tongariro National Park to the south. Required fields are marked *. Meanwhile, PÄ«hanga became the wife of Tongariro, and they had a child named Pukeronaki. This is used in roading and some of the large decorative boulders in and around Taupo. Almost immediately you will head into the covered bush of the mountain slopes. The ascent is pretty steady the whole way, and if you’re getting tired there are some places you can sit down with a view (not of the lake). This is the first landmark, and a good place from which to enjoy the view. Mount Tauhara: Walk up Mt Tauhara - See 31 traveler reviews, 28 candid photos, and great deals for Taupo, New Zealand, at Tripadvisor. This is one of those hikes locals love but tourists haven’t overrun, yet. Starting off through farmland the climb is steady but not difficulty. Hike Distance3: According to most websites it is a 2.8km trip each way (5.6km total). Find out why Taupo is one of the best places to walk & explore. The following is the story of Mount Tauhara as told by Te Ara: The story goes that in the days when the earth was young there were four mountain warriors: Tongariro, Taranaki (Mt Egmont), Tauhara and PÅ«tauaki (Mt Edgecumbe). Drive: This is the most practical option to get there. The track can be accessed via Mountain Road, about 3.5km / 2mi down State Highway 5 after the intersection with State Highway 1. It's a more remote alternative to the Tongariro Northern Circuit Great Walk and will take you 4 - 6 days. There’s ample car parking space at the trailhead on what is an otherwise quiet road. After the seat, the track continues in the same manner and gets a little more tricky with rocks to clamber around and larger tree roots to navigate. The track is only accessible by car which is a bit niggly but also makes it a bit more off the beaten path. Tauhara trail isnât marked on Google Maps but you can reach the trailhead on Mountain Road by searching for Mount Tauhara car park (or click here). It’s only a short drive (less than 10km) from the centre of Taupo via the Napier-Taupo highway. Round the Mountain Track. +4 °C. But my Strava data has the return hike at 6.42km and Maps.me measures it as 6.4km so I think it’s definitely over 6km. It is accessed by driving out of Taupo on SH5 towards Napier and turning left onto Mountain Road. Tauhara Maunga â Open for Public Access The popular walking track to the summit of Mount Tauhara, near Taupo, is again open to the public. You might even be treated to a mini-airshow as you sit here and contemplate. Cyclists can reach Rainbow Mountain by following Te Ara Ahi, a 66 km section of the Nga Haerenga, The New Zealand Cycle Trail that includes Rainbow Mountain Scenic Reserve.