- Home
- > North Island Walking Tracks
- > Taupo Walking Tracks
- >
- Taranaki Falls Walk, Mt Ruapehu
Taranaki Falls Walk, Mt Ruapehu
.jpg&width=400&height=267 "Taranaki Falls Walk, Mt Ruapehu")
| Location: |
| Nearest Town: National Park |
| Nearest City: Taupo |
| Length of tramp: 5.3 Km |
| Time needed: 2 Hours |
| Difficulty: Easy |
| Route: Round Trip |
| Elevation: 1139 M to 1200 M |
| Wet Feet: No |
| Toilets: Only at the village |
| Dogs: No |
| Mobile phone coverage: No |
| Date this tramp was last walked: 2009 |
| Track quality: Good, bad then back to good again. |
| Shops/restaurants: Only at the village |
| Petrol station: Only at the village |
| Hazards: Falling off a cliff. |
| Transport: Bus from National Park to the Village only |
| Water: Only at the village |
| Driving Instructions: Drive south through the national Park for about 200m. On the left is the Highway 47 to Taupo and Whakpapa Village. Drive on for 8.8km to the turn off to Whakpapa Village. Turn right on to Highway 48, Drive 6.1 km to reach the Village. |
| Camping on track: No |
| Track highlights: Waterfalls, tussock, alpine shrub lands and beech forest, fantastic view of Mt Ruapehu |
| Area & Track History: Ruapehu erupted 15.000 years ago. So there is no shortage of exposed lava flows. In 1894 the Tongariro National park was formed. The park is made up of 78.618 hectares. Call into the Whakpapa Visitors centre it is open 7 days a week, for weather updates and to watch the audiovisual presentation. |
Map of Taranaki Falls Walk, Mt Ruapehu :
This is a dynamic map. You can zoom in and out using the "+" and "-" buttons, drag the map to see surrounding areas and click on the flags to see each position on the map
Detailed track description for
Taranaki Falls Walk, Mt Ruapehu:
Taranaki Falls, Mt Ruapehu - Start
.jpg "Taranaki Falls, Mt Ruapehu - Start")
.jpg "Taranaki Falls, Mt Ruapehu - Start")
Click on photos to enlarge
Taranaki Falls, Mt Ruapehu - Point 2
.jpg "Taranaki Falls, Mt Ruapehu - Point 2")
.jpg "Taranaki Falls, Mt Ruapehu - Point 2")
.jpg "Taranaki Falls, Mt Ruapehu - Point 2")
Click on photos to enlarge
This was the Waihohonu horse track many years ago. The walk starts with red tussock grass and small patches of manuka. Then you walk into alpine shrub. The track is a very comfortable uphill walk to the falls with four small gullies to cross.
In a couple of places it can be a bit sticky. For the amount of traffic on this track I would expect a lot better from DOC.
What a swanky foot bridge. What were they thinking? I hope it does not fall down before they finish up grading the track.
Taranaki Falls, Mt Ruapehu - Point 3
.jpg "Taranaki Falls, Mt Ruapehu - Point 3")
.jpg "Taranaki Falls, Mt Ruapehu - Point 3")
Click on photos to enlarge
Just around the corner you can look back and just see the grand Chateau, be careful they might be watching you?
On a clear day you would be able to see out to the National Park township and the main road to TaupoTaranaki Falls, Mt Ruapehu - Point 4
.jpg "Taranaki Falls, Mt Ruapehu - Point 4")
.jpg "Taranaki Falls, Mt Ruapehu - Point 4")
.jpg "Taranaki Falls, Mt Ruapehu - Point 4")
Click on photos to enlarge
1 Hour.
Oh no another swanky bridge, this is the Wairere Stream. Take a short walk around the lava flow its quite interesting. Don’t fall over the edge. Walk up to the marker post on the other side of the bridge.Taranaki Falls, Mt Ruapehu - Point 5
.jpg "Taranaki Falls, Mt Ruapehu - Point 5")
.jpg "Taranaki Falls, Mt Ruapehu - Point 5")
.jpg "Taranaki Falls, Mt Ruapehu - Point 5")
Click on photos to enlarge
From the marker post, turn left and hop down the mirrored of steeps to the falls.
On the way down take a breather and sit down on the seat provided. There are more tables and seats provided at the bottom, the only catch is, you might get wet from the spray off the falls.
If you have a plastic bag with you, rap the camera up nice and tight and walk under the falls and take a photo.Taranaki Falls, Mt Ruapehu- Point 6
.jpg "Taranaki Falls, Mt Ruapehu- Point 6")
.jpg "Taranaki Falls, Mt Ruapehu- Point 6")
.jpg "Taranaki Falls, Mt Ruapehu- Point 6")
Click on photos to enlarge
The walk back is probably the best section of the walk. The beech forest is full of shiny broadleaf, mountain five fingers, ferns and the mighty Toatoa.
Native birds are also in abundance. Cascade falls is only 5 minutes down river from the falls once across the bridge it is plain sailing.
Taranaki Falls, Mt Ruapehu - Point 7
.jpg "Taranaki Falls, Mt Ruapehu - Point 7")
.jpg "Taranaki Falls, Mt Ruapehu - Point 7")
.jpg "Taranaki Falls, Mt Ruapehu - Point 7")
Click on photos to enlarge
You will come across a turn off to the right; this track goes out to Mangatepopo Hut. An extremely rough track. Just walk out on to the bridge for a view of the river. You are half way now.
Taranaki Falls, Mt Ruapehu - Point 8
.jpg "Taranaki Falls, Mt Ruapehu - Point 8")
.jpg "Taranaki Falls, Mt Ruapehu - Point 8")
.jpg "Taranaki Falls, Mt Ruapehu - Point 8")
Click on photos to enlarge
Two gully’s to negotiate, then on to an open flat of red tussock grass, when you approach to the chalets, the car park is 30m over to the left, you can cut through the buildings.
.jpg&width=90 "Taranaki Falls, Mt Ruapehu - Point 2, New Zealand")
.jpg&width=90 "Taranaki Falls, Mt Ruapehu - Point 3, New Zealand")
.jpg&width=90 "Taranaki Falls, Mt Ruapehu - Point 4, New Zealand")
.jpg&width=90 "Taranaki Falls, Mt Ruapehu - Point 5, New Zealand")
.jpg&width=90 "Taranaki Falls, Mt Ruapehu - Point 7, New Zealand")
.jpg&width=90 "Taranaki Falls, Mt Ruapehu - Point 8, New Zealand")
.jpg&width=90 "Taranaki Falls, Mt Ruapehu- Point 6, New Zealand")