Mount Tauhara Walk (My Sunset Hike From Taupo)
I’ve done the Mount Tauhara walk multiple times, but the one that sticks was a sunset mission with friends in early 2023. A bluebird day disappeared into a fiery red horizon over the Taupo caldera, with snow-capped Ruapehu sitting in the distance. It remains one of the best sunsets I’ve ever seen.
The walk is short, steep and close enough to Taupo that you can decide to do it after lunch. It climbs through a working farm, disappears into cool forest, then gets increasingly rooty before popping out at 1,088 metres.
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How Hard Is Mount Tauhara?
It is roughly twice the climbing of Mauao / Mount Maunganui and about half that of Ruapehu. That is probably more useful than calling it intermediate and hoping everyone shares the same definition.
A regular hiker will be fine. The climb is persistent and the upper forest asks you to use roots and branches, but this is not a technical summit. Mud makes the descent considerably more entertaining.
The current official Taupo trail page lists the route as 2.8 km each way, intermediate to advanced, with no toilets. Earlier versions of this guide used 3.3 km.
Getting To The Track
Take SH5 out of Taupo, turn onto Mountain Road and continue to the signed trailhead at number 94. Park carefully and leave the farm gates and driveways completely clear. The track begins at the gate.
Bring your water with you and use a toilet before arriving. There are no facilities at the trailhead or on the mountain, which is mildly inconvenient but not exactly an expedition-level logistics problem.
The Walk Up Mount Tauhara
Through The Farm
The hike starts with a steep climb through a working farm. Follow the markers, cross the stiles and give the livestock space. You may also hear gunfire from the nearby shooting range. It sounds alarming the first time; the walking track stays well away from the firing line.
Into The Forest
Once you reach the forest line the temperature drops and the walk becomes much more pleasant. The open farm climb is behind you, but the track itself gets narrower, rougher and increasingly tangled with roots.
Near the top it becomes a bit of a scramble. There are plenty of roots and branches to haul yourself up with, which is useful on the climb and even more useful when the same dirt has turned slippery on the way down.
The Summit
The summit opens over Lake Taupo and the volcanic plateau. Tongariro National Park sits directly across the lake, with the Kaimanawa Range to the east. In properly clear weather you may even pick out Mount Taranaki far to the west.
Do not automatically stop at the trig. Continue to the rocky outcrop for the more open view, find somewhere to sit and give yourself time to enjoy it. This is the whole point of walking uphill.
Hiking Mount Tauhara For Sunset
Sunset is my pick. On our last walk the sky went from clear blue to deep red over the lake, while Ruapehu held the last of the light in the other direction. Absolutely ridiculous.
The catch is that you descend through the forest in darkness. Take a proper headlamp, carry another light between the group and pack warm layers; the summit cools quickly once the sun goes. I would also walk it in daylight first if you are not comfortable following a rough track at night.
Weather, Mud And What To Bring
Mount Tauhara can be walked year-round, but I would choose a dry, clear day over any particular season. After heavy rain the roots and dirt channels become slick, and cloud can remove the summit view you climbed for.
What To Do After Mount Tauhara
For food, head back into Taupo rather than trying to turn the carpark into a picnic area. Industrie French Kitchen is close to the mountain and a very easy coffee-and-pastry stop; in town, grab something substantial and walk it off along the lakefront.
If you want another short walk, Huka Falls and the Spa Thermal Park section of the river are the obvious easy options. For a proper day out, drive south for the Tongariro Alpine Crossing. The Coromandel Pinnacles is a very different hike, but useful if you are building a larger North Island walking trip.
Taupo is easiest with a car. If you are flying in or building a central North Island road trip, compare rental cars here. Then give yourself another day around the lake. Mount Tauhara is a brilliant little summit, but it should not be the only thing you see before driving away.
New Zealand Travel Planning Cheatsheet
🚑 Should I buy travel insurance for New Zealand?
100% YES! — New Zealand has “free” healthcare but it’s only for citizens. Tourists need travel insurance in case anything happens on your visit. Also be aware many policies won’t cover hiking as it’s a high risk activity! (that’s right, check the t&c’s on your complimentary credit card insurance)
I highly recommend World Nomads as you can get specific add-ons for the crazy activities you’re doing – and starts at just $7 a day!
🚙 Do you need to rent a car in New Zealand?
I’d reccommend it — Renting a car isn’t a necessity to get around in NZ with plenty of domestical flights and intercity busses. But, If you want to go on road trips or adventures outside of the major cities, you’ll need to rent a car. I always use Discover Cars for my rental bookings (it’s like Skyscanner for cars!) as they compare all availible providers for the best price.
Better yet, rent a van! This is the most cost effective way to see Aotearoa as you’re getting your transport and accomodation together as one! (Checkout my reccommended van rentals here)
📲 Will my phone work in New Zealand?
You’ll need to get a local SIM card when in New Zealand, which is super easy and doesn’t require ID. Spark generally has the best coverage and you can get pre-paid plans for around $30 for 30 days.
Alternativly – I now always use Airalo when travelling. This app generates an eSIM that will work the moment you touch down. It costs slightly more than a local SIM but the convenience is well worth it. You can signup here
💸How do you pay for thing in New Zealand?
Cash has gone out of fashion in New Zealand, so you’ll be able to pay for almost everything with EFTPOS / Debit / Credit Card. Paywave (contactless payments) is very common, but vendors who accept American Express cards are not (so bring a backup!).
I personally use Wise for all my international money needs as they only convert the funds when you may payment and offer a much better spread (margin on the true exhange rate) than the banks do. They also provide free deibit cards for your account!
🏩 What’s the best way to book my New Zealand accommodation?
My go-to for Kiwi hotels is Booking.com. For hostels, I use Hostel World. If you want a home-y feeling, check out AirBnB.. but don’t expect prices to be that much cheaper than hotels.
✈️ What’s the best site to buy flights to New Zealand?
For finding cheap flights, I recommend Skyscanner. Once you find the flight you’re looking for, I’d then suggest booking directly with the carrier (even if it costs a few $$ more than with one of the agreggators/agencies).
💧Can you drink the water in New Zealand?
Yes — everywhere in New Zealand you can drink the tap water. If you’re out hiking you can even drink the water from mountainous rivers and streams. I recommend a Brita Water Bottle and a packet of water purificiation tablets for long hikes and backcountry camping.
🎫 Do I need a visa for New Zealand?
NZ has a ‘traditional visa’ which is a document stamped in your passport allowing you to enter and stay in New Zealand for a specified period, while an “NZeTA” (New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority) is a travel authorization that allows certain passport holders to visit New Zealand without needing a separate visa – essentially a visa waiver for eligible travelers; meaning you need a full NZ visa if you don’t qualify for an NZeTA based on your passport and travel intentions.
Looks beautiful! Can you camp along this trail? One of the pictures looks like you did but I read it’s not allowed? Visiting soon and would love to know.
Thanks Isabelle! No, you can’t i’m afraid. Its Maori reservation land, plus it’s a very short walk so not really normal to camp. There are some great local campgrounds though (like the Taupo Top 10), or if you want off-grid then the Kaimanawas, or Tongariro National Park are awesome 🙂