The Pouakai Crossing is the premiere day walk on Mt. Taranaki. This long day walk has stunning views, various terrain, and doesn’t climb too much.
The other day I was thinking about all of the day walks on Mt. Taranaki, trying to decide which is my favourite. There are a lot of great ones, such as Mt. Taranaki Summit, Fantham’s Peak, Pouakai Trig, and the Translator Tower Loop. Each of them has something I really enjoy, but none of them is quite as good as the Pouakai Crossing. The crossing takes in a little bit of everything that the mountain has to offer (other than the summit of course).
Pouakai Crossing Highlights And Logistics
Highlights – Goblin forest, views across Taranaki and the Tasman Sea, Ahukawakawa swamp, lowland forest, Pouakai Tarns, and views of the whole peak.
Location – Egmont National Park: start at North Egmont Visitor Centre and ends at Mangorei Road End.
Length Of Walk – 19 km or 7.5 – 9.5 hours : 3 – 4 hours North Egmont Visitor Centre to Holly Hut; 2 – 3 hours Holly Hut to Pouakai Hut; 1 – 2 hours Pouakai Hut to Mangorei Road End.
Difficulty – Moderate
Elevation Gain – About 750 m.
About The Pouakai Crossing
This walk begins from the North Egmont Visitor Centre and goes uphill through cool goblin forest (kamahi trees covered in epiphytes, moss, and lichens) for the first hour before emerging from the bush for a great view of Mt. Taranaki.
After emerging from the bush the track continues to climb for a short bit before traversing around the mountain towards Holly Hut. The views along here are fantastic as you are above the bush and can see out to the Tasman Sea and below the towering Dieffenbach Cliffs.
After the Kowhai Track junction the trail goes around the corner of the mountain, offering the first views out over Ahukawakawa swamp, and then descends towards Holly Hut. Just past the junction to Holly Hut is a nice viewing platform that looks over the swamp and the Pouakai Range.
From the platform the track crosses the swamp. Be sure to stop and look back at the view once you get towards the bridge because you can see the whole mountain and it’s incredible.
After the swamp, the track climbs steeply up towards the Pouakai Range ridge. The track passes by gnarled mountain cedar through here, but be warned as it can get very muddy.
Just above Pouakai hut is an amazing view from a boulder strewn plateau that looks across the swamp and takes in the whole mountain.
From the plateau you can carry on to the famed Pouakai Tarns for the iconic photo of the mountain reflected in the water. Then return and begin the descent down to the end of the trail. The walk down passes through scrub forest, then goblin forest, and finally some lowland forest with huge rimu trees.
My Insider Tips For The Pouakai Crossing
Since this is a through hike you need to arrange a car at both ends. You can either bring two cars and shuttle them yourselves (it’s about 35 minutes driving between the start and end) or hire a shuttle service to drive you. I would recommend parking at the end and having the shuttle company pick you up and drive you to the start of the hike. A couple of the companies are Taranaki Mountain Shuttle and Ducks and Drakes.
There are two side trips that are worth considering. You most likely won’t have time to do both of them, so pick one if you’re up for it. Bells Falls is a one hour side trip that takes you from Holly Hut down to a nice waterfall.
Pouakai Trig is an hour and a half side trip that leads to the highest point of the Pouakai range. It is amazing up there, but the track is a bit rough and poorly maintained in places.
Carry the water you need for the walk as there is nowhere to fill up . In an emergency you can fill up water at Holly Hut or Pouakai Hut, but those are both on rain water and supply is limited.