- A short, sharp loop on Mt Egmont with big views once you clear the bush line.
- About 3 km return, roughly 1 hour 30 minutes at an easy pace.
- Starts and finishes at the North Egmont Visitor Centre, one of the main starting points for Mt Egmont walks.
- Climbs to around 1132m before looping back down through native bush on the Ram Track.
- Dogs are not permitted on the Veronica Loop Track.
- I have walked this one myself, it is one of my go to short walks on the mountain.
Quick facts
Getting there
The Veronica Loop Track starts and finishes at the North Egmont Visitor Centre, at the end of Egmont Road off SH3, roughly 20 minutes from Inglewood. The track begins beside the old red camp house, one of the oldest buildings on the mountain, just to the left of the visitor centre itself.
Car parking at North Egmont is limited until December 2026 while a new visitor centre is being built, and large trucks using the road can cause the occasional delay. Check DOC’s Veronica Loop Track page for the latest construction updates before you head up. The visitor centre itself stays open through the works, it has simply moved to a temporary building in the upper car park, above the construction site.
Over the summer peak season, Egmont Road runs a seasonal traffic management system with digital signage rather than the old one-car-in one-car-out approach. Check the current rules for Egmont Road before you go if you are visiting over the busy summer period or Easter weekend.
The walk
This is a loop, so you can walk it in either direction, but the track markers point you left from the visitor centre, past the old camp house, and up.
North Egmont Visitor Centre to the Veronica turn off
There is a large info board at the start to get your bearings. Take the track to the right of it. From here to the turn off it is uphill all the way, with a fair few steps, and it takes about 35 minutes to cover the 982 vertical metres of climbing. Keep an eye out for small side tracks on the right, they lead to good viewing spots worth the short detour. The sign for the turn off is easy to spot.
Turn off to Ram Track junction
This section feels different, narrower and more like a bush track, with tree roots and packed dirt underfoot. If you are over six foot, you will likely clip your head on a low branch or two, it is the same on most of New Zealand’s alpine bush tracks. The harsh winds keep the trees stunted and low. The first 10 minutes is fairly flat before you meet the next ridge, then it is a pleasant downhill walk to the Ram Track junction, about 25 minutes and 1.7 km in total.
Ram Track junction back to the camp house
The Ram Track heads off to the left here if you want to extend the walk. For the Veronica loop, keep right and make your way around several easy little gullies back to the camp house, about 20 minutes for the final 1 km. It is a pleasant walk even in the rain, and you will be back in time for a hot flat white and a slice of cake at the cafe.
What you’ll see on the Veronica Loop Track
The big draw here is the view. Once you climb above the bush line you get wide open views out to New Plymouth and the Taranaki coast, and on a clear day the Tasman Sea stretches out below. Looking the other way you get a different angle on Mt Egmont’s upper slopes than you get from the main summit routes.
The bush section has native conifers, broadleaf species and northern rata, part of the mix of semi coastal and montane forest that covers the lower slopes of Egmont National Park. Keep an ear out for fantail and wood pigeon in the trees. The park is also home to threatened species including North Island brown kiwi, fernbird and blue duck, though you are unlikely to spot any of these on a short walk like this one.
Who it’s for
This suits anyone who wants decent views for a modest amount of effort. Families with older kids, casual walkers, or anyone staying at North Egmont who wants a leg stretch before or after a coffee at the visitor centre. There are steps and a steady climb on the way up, so it is not suitable for pushchairs or wheelchairs, and it is not really a track for very young children given the drop offs on some sections.
When to go
You can walk the Veronica Loop Track most of the year, but Mt Egmont’s weather changes fast and without much warning. DOC advises checking the forecast before you head out and carrying enough clothing and gear to handle a sudden change in conditions, since snow, heavy rain or storm damage can make tracks impassable at short notice. It can get extremely cold and wet up here in winter, so rug up if you are walking outside the summer months.
Important stuff
- Dogs are not permitted on the Veronica Loop Track. Other pets are not allowed either, in line with the standard rule against domestic pets across Egmont National Park.
- Toilets and water are available at the North Egmont Visitor Centre, at the start and finish of the walk.
- The track can be a little muddy in places, otherwise the surface is good underfoot.
- Freedom camping is not allowed at the North Egmont road end. If you want to camp overnight nearby, DOC points to the Stratford Plateau car park on Pembroke Road or the Mangorei Road car park instead.
- Mt Egmont and Egmont National Park were officially renamed Taranaki Maunga and Te Papa-Kura-o-Taranaki in April 2025. This page keeps the walk’s published name, Mt Egmont, since that is how most people still search for it.
Common questions
Is there parking at North Egmont for the Veronica Loop Track?
Parking is limited while the new visitor centre is being built, and the car park can fill fast on sunny, peak season days regardless of the construction. DOC recommends carpooling or using a shuttle if you can, especially over summer weekends.
Can I take my dog on the Veronica Loop Track?
No. Dogs are not permitted on this track, and pets generally are not allowed in Egmont National Park.
Can I camp overnight at North Egmont?
Freedom camping is not permitted at the North Egmont road end. The nearest overnight camping options are the Stratford Plateau car park on Pembroke Road and the Mangorei Road car park.
Is the road up to North Egmont open in summer?
Usually yes, but Egmont Road runs a seasonal traffic management system over the busiest summer period and Easter weekend, with digital signage controlling traffic. Check the current rules before you travel if you are going up over a peak period.
How long does the Veronica Loop Track take?
About 1 hour 30 minutes for the full 3 km loop at an easy walking pace, longer if you stop often for photos at the viewpoints.
My honest take
I have walked this one a few times now and it is one of my favourites on Mt Egmont when time is short. You get real above the bush line views for not much effort, and the loop format means you are not backtracking on the same path. The climb up is the hard part, plenty of steps, but it is over quickly. The bush section on the Ram Track side feels completely different again, narrower and more overgrown, a good reminder of how quickly the mountain changes character over a short distance. My only real gripe is the same one anyone walking here in winter will have, it gets bitterly cold and wet, so dress for it. Otherwise this is a genuinely good value short walk and a nice way to stretch your legs before or after a coffee at the visitor centre.
Other walks nearby
Back to Mt Egmont Walks.
