Walking and Hiking

Tongariro Crossing

The Tongariro Crossing has been called 'the best one day walk in New Zealand'. It's a strenuous 17km; 8hr hike past Mt Ngauruhoe and over Mt Tongariro.

Transport for the Tongariro Crossing is available at the gate from Matai Shuttles. Click here for more information.

For more information about the Tongariro Crossing, click here.

The Ohakune Old Coach Road

A cobblestoned road built over 100 yrs ago for train passengers to be transported between the north and south railheads. The gradient here was too steep for trains, so passengers were transferred into horse-drawn coaches to meet the next section of railway.

Visitors with limited time will be able to do the Old Coach Road day ride/walk from either end as we can arrange transport, dropping you off at Horopito for the trip back to Ohakune. On this stage you will ride or walk through an old railway tunnel, into majestic native forest and over the breathtaking Hapuawhenua Viaduct, a historic feat of engineering. Information boards tell you of the history along the way. You will enjoy wide scenes out across farmland to the distant ranges, and arrive back at the Peaks in time for a well deserved soak in the spa.

Mangawhero Stream

Walk: Crossing over the bridge opposite The Peaks Motor Inn, take a walk up the track beside the Mangawhero River to The Junction (approx 1 km) where you can reward yourself at The Station Cafe in the railway station building, or The Powderkeg bar/brasserie. The track also takes you back into town via some scenic stands of mountain beech trees.

Mangawhero Forest Walk and Rimu Track

These two tracks begin opposite the DoC visitor Centre at the bottom of the Ohakune mountain road.

The Mangawhero Forest Walk

(3 kilometre round trip which takes one hour) begins by crossing the Mangawhero River from which it gains its name. Running over a bed of red tinged rocks, the river starts high up Mount Ruapehu and descends over two giant waterfalls, carving its way through the debris of previous eruptions. Following a faultline down the Mangawhero eventually joins the Whangaehu River From the river the track leads into a forest of kamahi, broadleaf and five finger, with giant rimu, matai and kahikatea trees reaching thirty meters or more above the forest floor. Immediate after passing through a large cut fallen log the track crosses a large volcanic crater. The long process of infilling this volcanic vent has reached the stage where water, still lying close to the surface is able to support a swamp-type forest. The buttressed kahikatea, New Zealand tallest tree, will tolerate continually wet feet, while its close relative, the rimu, prefers drier place at the edge of the crater. A similar vent, a short distance to the west, supports an earlier stage of forest development.

Mangawhero Falls

(10 mins return) A great hike for those who don't like the longer distances, this brings you to the edge of a dizzying volcanic rift and resulting waterfall after only 4 minutes walk. Situated 13 kms up Mountain Rd, the views out on a fine day are spectacular even from the carpark, if that's really as far as you want to go.

Waitonga Falls

(1 hour 30 minutes return), the track to the falls begins on the Ohakune Mountain road, 11 kilometres past the DoC Visitor Centre . Tongariro National park's highest Waterfall, the 39m Waitonga Falls are reached via a well formed track and kaikawaka (mountain Cedar) forest. On a calm day the southern face of Ruapehu is reflected in Rotokawa the pools of a ridgetop alpine bog over which the track passes. On a clear day there are magnificent views of mount Ruapehu and the surrounding countryside to the souwest. This track is rich in plant with mistletoe on beech trees and green hooded orchids along the banks. In the alpine bog sundews and bladderworth may be seen in addition to the usual larger vegetation of the bog, especially when flowering. Past Waitonga Falls, the track continues as part of the round the mountain track, a four to six day tramp around Mount Ruapehu.

Blyth Track (4-5 hours round trip)

Beginning at 7 km up Mountain Rd, this track leads into impressive beech forest, giving way to tanekaha which gets progressively shorter as the altitude gets higher. This track was constructed in the early 1900s, a lot of the way through mountain bog. Logs were placed across it in order to make it passable; many of these can still be seen today. Meet up with the Waitonga Falls track and follow that back to Mountain Rd, then walk down Mountain Road back to the beginning of the Blyth Track.

Waihohonu Track (7 hours)

A good day's walk of 17 kms. Transport from our gate can drop you off on the Desert Rd, pick you up at the other end (Wakapapa) then deliver you back here at The Peaks. At a lower altitude than The Tongariro Crossing, so is more accessible if the weather is less than perfect. Terrain is gently rolling, gradually descending if you do it from the Desert Rd end. The track leads you between two volcanoes, Mt Ruapehu and Mt Ngauruhoe. From the main track you can take side trips to Ohinepani Springs, Taranaki Falls and Tama Lakes. (see below)

Tama Lakes and Taranaki Falls

Well worth a return trip from Whakapapa just to see the Tama Lakes, taking in the Taranaki Falls on the way and returning to Whakapapa in about 5 hours.

The first of the impressive Tama Lakes is reached in a short easy walk off the main Waihohonu track. Although both the lakes are formed from volcanic blow holes, they are quite different in colour and form. A steeper climb up scree and rock slopes (a hiking pole is a good idea for this one) will take you up to the second lake, nestled at the foot of Mt Ngauruhoe. Here you have spectacular views across to the slopes of Mt Ruapehu, across to the Desert Rd and to The Chateau in the other direction.

Rotokura Lakes

Designated an ecological area, with plentiful birdlife: also a favoured area for short tailed bats to roost in, although you will not see these by day. Both lakes are ancient volcanic vents, and are also tapu (sacred) to local Maori. Please respect this by not eating, fishing or swimming in the area. From the DOC carpark there is a 5 minute climb up a track while listening to a nearby hidden stream. After this the gradient is all gentle, leading through beautiful beech forest, on to the next lake and around it.

Lake Surprise

(5 hours return) This track begins on the Ohakune Mountain road, 15 kilometres past the DoC Visitor Centre. After sliding down across open country from the mountain road the track descends into Mangaturuturu Valley beside a beautiful cascade flowing over smooth bedrock. The Creamy coating on the cascade is due to silica and mineral rich water from an alpine spring. Waterfalls and bluffs complement the backdrop of Mount Ruapehu the Mangaturuturu Hut, 1 hour 30 minutes from the road. Evidence of the 1975 lahar (volcanic mudflow) can be seen here in the scoured treeless river banks. Lake Surprise, a broad, shallow lake set amongst beech forest and tussock, is reached after a steady climb form the river valley.

For more information on walking tracks and facilities in the Tongariro National Park, visit the Department of Conservation website: www.doc.govt.nz