The Mt. Taranaki summit hike is an epic, bucket list hike in New Zealand. Here is everything you need to know about this great North Island volcano hike.
Te Papa Kura o Taranaki (formerly known as Egmont National Park) has an abundance of great walks. Some of the best day walks include Pouakai Tarns, the Pouakai Crossing, Fanthams Peak, and the Translator Tower Loop. Those are all very nice, but for some people nothing compares with summitting the peak itself. Experienced mountaineers will take various routes up the mountain from all sides and in all seasons (these are people like Edmund Hillary). However, for most people there is one main route to the summit along the north-east ridge during summer, which I’ll describe here.
Mt. Taranaki Summit Hike Highlights And Logistics
Highlights – Alpine world, 360 degree views, rock scrambling, and a long scree field to negotiate.
Location – The north-east side of Mt. Taranaki on the North Island.
Length Of Walk – 12.6 km return, between 5 – 10 hours, 1,500 m elevation gain. Most people take between 6 – 8, but it can be done faster by fit, experienced people. Likewise, it can take longer.
Difficulty – Difficult
Season – The best season to do this walk is from the end of December through April. This totally depends on the year as it is really only good to do when there is no snow on the peak itself. Keep in mind that a freak snowstorm may come through in January and make the summit undoable.
About The Mt. Taranaki Summit Hike
I just want to make this clear – this is a very challenging hike, but it can be completed by anyone if you are prepared and in good shape.
This is truly an epic must do hike as it takes you to the top of Mt. Taranaki. Mt. Taranaki is an iconic, almost perfectly shaped volcano that can be seen from far away and the views from the upper slopes are unforgettable.
I like to think of this hike as having 5 main sections. It’s a good idea to take a pause at the completion of each section to have a snack and asses the conditions to make sure it’s still safe to carry on.
The first part is getting up to Tahurangi Lodge from North Egmont Visitor Centre and takes 1 to 1 and a half hours. This follows a four wheel drive road and starts out as a few long switchbacks climbing through bush to scrub.
As you emerge from the scrub you will get to the base of the puffer. The puffer is a super steep, cemented section of the track that takes you to the tussock slopes around Tahurangi Lodge.
From the lodge, the next part of the track is a short stretch up (always up) through Hongi Vally, a bouldery route.
Then, a long series of wooden stairs climbs out of the valley and onto the ridge itself. This is always a good time to assess the conditions because you are now on the ridge and fully exposed to the elements. From this point on to the summit this is a route not a trail. That means that there are poles marking the way so you can meander a little bit to one side or the other, just keep near the poles.
For a short bit on the ridge there is scree interspersed with vegetation. That is followed by the toughest part of the walk, a long, long ascent up the scoria. This is most definitely my least favourite part of the walk as its just tough to walk up or down this. This stretch takes a long time up as it’s slow going. Coming down can be treacherous too as in some parts the scoria is not soft, but is a hard packed surface with loose rocks on top. Basically, it’s a slippery nightmare and I’ve seen heaps of people falling here.
Eventually, the you cut across the scoria towards the right and get onto the Lizard, a long rocky ridge that comes down from near the crater. This is another long, long stretch that is just a matter of climbing up the rocky ridge. At this point I put my hiking poles in my bag because sometimes I will use my hands to climb up here and the poles are not that helpful.
Be careful on the Lizard as there may be loose rocks. Watch out for rocks above you and be careful about dislodging rocks onto those below you. If you knock a rock loose be sure to yell loudly ‘rock’ to alert those below you.
The lizard leads to a ledge that you will carefully climb across and then drop down into the crater. The crater has snow in it all year long, so be cautious crossing it and stick to the side (where you see the tracks people have taken). Then the final section is the short climb to the peak itself. The peak is sacred to the local Maori, so don’t stand on the very top itself.
My Insider’s Tips To The Mt. Taranaki Summit Hike
Start Early – It’s always a good idea to start early for a summit attempt. This will give you plenty of time in case something arises and will also help you avoid the crowds. This could be an hour before sunrise or just after sunrise.
Check The Weather – Here are a couple of things to look at the weather to decide if it’s a good day or not to summit. Wind – if the winds get above 25 kms then you’ll feel it and it may not be the best. If the winds are above 40/45 kms then it’s likely too windy for anyone. Temperature – make sure the temperature is not forecast to be too low for you. Precipitation/Clouds – If there are clouds/fog then it may be impossible to summit without previous experience as you can easily lose the route. If you lose the route on the upper slopes the consequences could be severe.
Be Prepared – Even on a sunny, summer day be sure to carry a warm jacket, hat, gloves, and bring food and water. The weather can change quickly and it can often be much colder on the mountain than down below.
Use hiking poles. Personally, I like to use hiking poles. I find them super useful in the scoria as they give me two more pivot points and help prevent me from falling.
Alternate starting point – the car park at the North Egmont Visitor Centre fills up super fast on a nice day, especially during summer, school holidays, or the weekend. An alternate option is to park at the top of Pembroke Road (at a large carpark at the Stratford Plateau, which is the ski field car park). The walk from here to Tahurangi Lodge is a bit farther, but a gentler ascent than from North Egmont Visitor Centre.