Whakapapa Walks

Tama Lakes Track (Upper & Lower Lakes)              (DAY WALK)

This is a stunning walk with amazing scenery on a good day. The walk is 7 hours return. It can be completed in a shorter time but we like to make the walk enjoyable and not a marathon with many stops to enjoy the scenery and have a rest.

Walking through a variety of landscapes you will reach the old explosion craters on the Tama Saddle between Ruapehu and Ngauruhoe.

To reach the Upper Lake you need to climb rather steeply and walk across a ridge that is exposed but once you get to the other side and peer down into the top lake all the effort has been well worth it.

On our return we once again join the loop track around the Taranaki Falls and walk past the falls and through the beautiful bush to return just below our starting point on Ngauruhoe Place by the Château Tongariro.

We would class this walk as our flagship walk but it can only be attempted in good weather and you must be reasonably fit.

We have included a couple of photos here but check our Photo Gallery for more of this walk.

 

The Upper Tama Lake from the ridge where we would usually stop for lunch

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Lower Tama Lake from the ridge on the way to the upper lake with Ruapehu in the background

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

Silica Rapids Walk         (DAY WALK)

Approximately three and a half hours with stops and 7km's this track takes you through a range of vegetation types as well as the amazing creamy-white Silica Rapids terraces.

You meander through beach forest, swampy areas of wire rush, tangle furn and red tussock and if there has been heavy rain you will see the Tawhainui Falls as they tumble over an ancient lava flow.

This is a beautiful walk and highly recommended. It is relatively easy but we still advise you to have good sturdy footwear.

There are a couple of photos here to tempt you but look at our Photo Gallery for more on this walk.

 

 The creamy-white Silica Rapids terraces

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Waikare Stream below the Silica Rapids where it bubbles and tumbles through the abundant bush.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Taranaki Falls Walking Track          (HALF DAY WALK)

A two hour without stops 6km loop track

This track has excellent mountain views and crosses and range of land forms.On clear days you can have spectacular views of Ngauruhoe's symmetrical cone and the older eroded Tongariro and Pukekaikiore mountains.

During the bush stage of this walk you pass through areas of large mountain beech trees, broad-leaf, mountain five finger, umbrella ferns and mountain toatoa.

There is also a wide variety of bird life to be seen.

The Taranaki Falls is the highlight of the walk where they tumble 20 metres over the edge of a large andesite lava flow which erupted from Ruapehu 15,000 years ago.

 This walk is also part of our Tama Lakes excursion.

 

 

 

A view of the Taranaki Falls where they tumble over on old lava flow from Ruapehu.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The beautiful bush on the Taranaki Falls loop track on the way back to the Château Tongariro. We also complete the Tama Lakes Walk on this same track.

Seems like they are happy to be nearly home!!!!!!

 

 

 

 

 Whakapapanui Walking Track      (DAY WALK)

 A two hour 6km return track following the Whakapapanui Stream through storm damaged but regenerating beech forest. Interesting views.

 Shorter tracks usually combined to make a half day or days walking.

Mounds Walk           (COMBINATION WALK)

A twenty minutes return track without stops.

This track wanders through the avalanche debris during periods of Ruapehu's volcanic activity. These mounds are believed to have formed thousands of years ago.

Tawhai Falls Walk   (COMBINATION WALK)

A twenty minutes return track without stops.

View the Tawhai Falls which tumble over the edge of an ancient lava flow. A stroll through mountain totara and beech forest.

Ridge Walking Track.  (COMBINATION WALK)

A thirty to forty minute walk returning on the same track.

A short climb through beech forest emerging into alpine shrub lands with spectacular views of Ruapehu, Ngauruhoe and the surrounding landscape.

Whakapapa Nature Walk  (COMBINATION WALK)

A fifteen minute loop track giving a glimpse of the unique flora of the Tongariro National Park. Excellent to view and understand the various vegetation zones of the park.

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