Mt Tauhara climbs from farmland behind Taupo to a 1,088m summit with views over Lake Taupo, Tongariro and Ruapehu on a clear day. Allow about three hours return for the 2.8km one way track. It’s a steady, often steep climb on a rough surface, and dogs aren’t allowed on this working farmland.
Quick facts
Make a day of it
Wairakei Terraces: Thermal Hot Pools
After the climb down from Tauhara, easing tired legs in the Wairakei Terraces thermal pools makes a good end to the day. It’s a short drive from Taupo and a relaxing way to recover from the summit push.
Parking at the Mount Tauhara car park
Drive out of Taupo on State Highway 5, the Napier road. About 5.2km from the lake edge you’ll see the sign for Mountain Road, turn left and follow it to the end. The start is behind a large pine tree, with the sign for the track right there. The car park itself is small and it can fill up on fine weekends, so get there early if you want a space close to the start.
There’s no public transport out to this part of Mountain Road, so you’ll need to self-drive, cycle, or book a rideshare from central Taupo. If you fancy seeing the same landscape from a completely different angle, a Taupo Floatplane: Peek of the Lake flight gives you Lake Taupo and the mountain from the air, a nice contrast to the climb.
Farmland, water tanks and into the bush
From the sign behind the pine tree, the first stretch is over open farmland, uphill most of the way to a set of old water tanks, about 50 minutes in. This is an operating farm, so you may run into cattle or sheep. Stay calm around stock, keep well clear, and leave any gates the way you found them.
Check the current park notices before you go, as the lower farmland section has been getting attention. Trail reports mention a new, better graded section with switchbacks being built to replace the old eroded, trench like path, though it wasn’t open the last time anyone checked.
Past the water tanks you leave the paddocks behind and drop into scrub and bush. The track is uphill all the way from here, steep to start but it eases off. It’s rough and a bit overgrown in spots, so good boots make a real difference. There’s a creek about 15 minutes below the top, the only water source on the whole route.
From the creek, there’s a short flat section before the final pinch up to the summit. It’s a welcome breather before the last climb.
Views over Lake Taupo, Tongariro and Ruapehu
Mt Tauhara is 1,088m above sea level and was formed about 65,000 years ago, made up mostly of rhyolite. It sits only 7km from Taupo township, which is why that view from the top is so good on a clear day, the whole lake laid out below you, with Mt Tongariro and Mt Ruapehu visible to the south.
Is the Mt Tauhara track hard?
Call it medium to hard. There’s no technical scrambling, but it’s a sustained climb the whole way from the car park to the top, on a surface that’s rough and sometimes overgrown. Reasonably fit walkers manage it fine, but it’s not a stroll, and it’s not wheelchair or pushchair friendly. For a gentler outing in the area, see the Taupo walks hub for easier options.
Best time to walk Mt Tauhara
Go on a clear, calm day if you can, the views are the whole point and they disappear fast in low cloud. Mornings tend to be calmer. Whatever the weather is doing in Taupo, be prepared to freeze on the summit, it’s exposed and the wind cuts through. If you’d rather keep things flatter that day, the Craters Of The Moon Geothermal Walk: Taupo is an easy geothermal walk that suits a gentler day out. Or stay off your feet altogether with a Scenic Maori Rock Carving Cruise: Chris Jolly Outdoors to see the lake from the water instead.
Dogs, fees and water on the track
Dogs aren’t allowed, this is working farmland for the lower section and stock welfare comes first. There’s no fee, permit or booking needed, it’s free to walk. There are no toilets anywhere on the route, so sort that out in Taupo before you leave. The only water on the track is the creek about 15 minutes below the summit, so carry your own. Mobile coverage is generally fine along the route.
My honest take
I walked this one on a cold, clear day and the climb earns its view. The farmland section drags a bit underfoot, it’s steady uphill the whole way to the water tanks, and then the bush section above is rough going with tree roots and loose ground in spots. The short flat stretch near the creek is a nice break before the final push. Standing on top with the whole Taupo district spread out, light cloud drifting past and a bitterly cold wind, it was still a fantastic day out. Bring a warm layer even if it’s mild in town.
Afterwards, my legs were grateful for a soak. Wairakei Terraces: Thermal Hot Pools is a good way to ease tired legs after the climb, or if you’d rather something bigger, Taupo DeBretts Hot Springs & Water Park: Entry is another relaxing option nearby for post hike recovery.
Common questions
Is Mt Tauhara free to walk?
Yes, there’s no entry fee, permit or booking required.
Are dogs allowed on the Mt Tauhara track?
No, the lower section crosses an operating farm, so dogs are asked to stay away.
Is the Mt Tauhara track being upgraded?
The Te Mana o Tauhara project, run with the Tauhara Mountain Trust and supported by the Nankervis Trust, has been upgrading the track up to the bush line as part of a longer term plan to restore native bush on the mountain. Check current park notices before you go, since work on the farmland section has affected the route at times.
Where do you park for the Mount Tauhara car park?
Turn off State Highway 5 onto Mountain Road, about 5.2km from the lake edge, and follow it to the end. The car park is small, so arrive early if you can.
How long does the Mt Tauhara summit walk take?
About 1 hour 15 minutes up, and roughly 3 hours for the full return trip.
Other walks near Taupo
If you’re based in Taupo for a few days, there’s more worth doing nearby: Aratiatia Dam Walk, Tongariro National Trout Centre, and Butchers Hot Pool are all easy additions to a Taupo trip.
Back to Taupo Walks for more walking options in the area.
{“@context”:”https://schema.org”,”@graph”:[{“@type”:”Article”,”headline”:”Mt Tauhara Summit Walk”,”author”:{“@type”:”Person”,”name”:”Sandra Tanner”,”url”:”https://www.freewalks.nz/about-us/”},”publisher”:{“@type”:”Organization”,”name”:”Freewalks.nz”},”image”:”https://freewalks.nz/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/View-from-the-top-of-Mt-Tauhara-in-Taupo.jpg”,”datePublished”:”2022-05-23T20:19:54″,”dateModified”:”2023-10-01T20:00:25″,”mainEntityOfPage”:”https://freewalks.nz/taupo/mt-tauhara-walk/track/”,”url”:”https://freewalks.nz/taupo/mt-tauhara-walk/track/”},{“@type”:”TouristAttraction”,”additionalType”:”https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiking_trail”,”name”:”Mt Tauhara Summit Walk”,”description”:”A 2.8km one way track climbing from farmland near Taupo to the 1,088m summit of Mt Tauhara, with views over Lake Taupo, Tongariro and Ruapehu.”,”geo”:{“@type”:”GeoCoordinates”,”latitude”:-38.699999,”longitude”:176.166667},”isAccessibleForFree”:true,”url”:”https://freewalks.nz/taupo/mt-tauhara-walk/track/”},{“@type”:”BreadcrumbList”,”itemListElement”:[{“@type”:”ListItem”,”position”:1,”name”:”Home”,”item”:”https://freewalks.nz/”},{“@type”:”ListItem”,”position”:2,”name”:”Taupo Walks”,”item”:”https://freewalks.nz/taupo-walks/”},{“@type”:”ListItem”,”position”:3,”name”:”Mt Tauhara Summit Walk”,”item”:”https://freewalks.nz/taupo/mt-tauhara-walk/track/”}]}]}
