One of Tongariro National Park’s best short walks, the easy 2 hour loop to Taranaki Falls is jam-packed with fascinating natural sights and excellent mountain views. A superb way to experience the Tongariro National Park and enjoy this stunning time of day.
Enjoy a glass of New Zealand wine while you take in the sights of the Taranaki Falls tumbling 20 metres over the edge of a large lava flow, which erupted from Ruapehu 15,000 years ago. Your Adrift qualified guide will talk about the area with their local knowledge of geology, volcanology and New Zealand cultural history.
Day 10
Booking conditions:
A refund of the tour cost is given to all cancellations made by customers up to 14 days prior to the tour date, booking fee is non refundable.
Should the minimum group size not be met a surcharge of an extra person(s) will be charged or the customer can choose 1: reschedule for up to 12 months from the original tour date or 2: receive a refund of the tour cost, booking fee is non refundable. Adrift Tongariro has the right to cancel a tour should we consider the weather to cause too high a risk. If Adrift Tongariro cancels due to unsafe forecast or conditions a safe alternate tour will be offered or the customer can choose 1: reschedule for up to 12 months from the original tour date or 2: receive a refund of the tour cost, booking fee is non refundable.
Fitness Requirements
A low level of fitness is required. There are some steps on this walk, if you are concerned about your fitness please let your guide know before commencing the walk, as there are options we can discuss with you. Walking time is about 2 hours including stops and a stop at Taranaki Falls. The walk is 6 kms and our walking pace is about 3 kms per hour which is easily achievable for just about everyone. When you arrive, our guides will check everyone in, go over the trip conditions and assess and provide the additional clothing and gear if needed. Once we meet you, you are under our guidance so you can then relax and enjoy the journey with Adrift.
Total distance: 6km (3.7 miles)
Elevation gain: 143m (469 feet)
Walking time: 2 hours
Track conditions: Track is well formed. Surfaces vary between boardwalks, stairs, dirt or gravel.
The track is in two parts – an upper and lower – which form a loop with the falls around the halfway mark. Walk for approximately 50 minutes on the lower track through tussock, alpine shrublands, beech forest and over the Wairere Stream to the Taranaki Falls. Take in the sights while enjoying a glass of New Zealand wine.
From the falls, the track climbs through forest, tussock, manuka and crosses old lava flows and eroded gullies. We take 45 mins to return, arriving back at the start to watch the sunset lighting up a majestic alpine setting. Summer tours finish in the hours just before sunset, outside summer the tour finishes on or just before sunset (see tour times below)
Gear Hire
Adrift Tongariro has available for hire personal equipment, footwear and clothing to supplement that which you don’t have and need.
Pricing:
Boots: $20
Clothing items: $10 each (thermal longs, fleece longs, waterproof pants, thermal tops, fleece tops, waterproof tops) Clothing accessories: $5 each (socks, gloves, warm hats, sun hats and sunglasses)
Day backpacks: $10 each
Walking poles: $5 each
It is essential all clients phone the Adrift Tongariro base between 10:00am – 5:00pm the day prior to the trip date to confirm the tour departure time and discuss exact timings. Ph: +64 7892 2751
