Taranaki Falls Walk – A Tongariro National Park Gem
Located in Tongariro National Park, the Taranaki Falls walk is one of the lesser known hidden gems in the area. This easy two hour walk is a great activity for people of all fitness levels and offers everything from crystal clear rivers to stunning flora and fauna with the incredible Taranaki Falls located halfway through the walk.
With so many amazing walks in the Tongariro National Park area, including the famous Tongariro Crossing, it is no surprise that the Taranaki Falls walk is not the most well known. However, it does come highly recommended by the locals and is one of those places that once you have been, you wont be able to stop talking about.
Why is the Taranaki Falls Walk a must do?
When most people visit Tongariro National Park they are there to do one of a few things. The Tongariro Crossing, the Round the Mountain Hike or to enjoy the snow on Mount Ruapehu. The Taranaki Falls walk is a great option to add into the itinerary for your next trip.
There are many reasons the this walk is a must do and the first is of course the waterfall. Taranaki Falls stands at a height of 20 meters and overlooks Mount Tongariro and Mount Ngauruhoe. This stunning feature is surrounded by volcanic rock and the contrasting alpine bushes and make the area completely unique and unlike anything you have seen before.
This unique landscape was formed by the eruption of Mount Ruapehu 15,000 years ago. The lava flow made its way down the valley and carved the land into the way you see it today. Thankfully for us it left us with the beautiful waterfalls.
How to get to the Taranaki Falls Walk
The Taranaki Falls walk is located in Tongariro National Park on the North Island of New Zealand. Driving from Auckland or Wellington will take you the same amount of time. It is 4 hour drive north from Wellington or the same going south from Auckland.
Easily accessed from Whakapapa Village in Tongariro National Park the Taranaki Falls walk is a loop track that connects to other walks in the area. While the walk is a loop track, the start and end points are located about 50 meters away from each other. Both points are situated on Ngauruhoe Terrace with a carpark available at the trail entrance at the end of the road.
While the carpark at the end of the road has the entrance to one end of the loop walk, it is recommended to walk back down the road a bit to the other entrance. Taking this track means you will walk to the base of Taranaki Falls first and get to enjoy this part before you walk up to the top.
With the track starting right in Whakapapa Village, the Taranaki Falls walk is a great option for a morning or evening walk as part of your trip to Tongariro National Park.
What is the Taranaki Falls Walk Like?
Knowing what to expect from a walk before you begin is an extremely helpful way to work out if this walk is right for you. Terrain, timings and the overall experience of the walk can either make it or break it for someone and every walk is always so different to the last. In general, the Taranaki Falls walk is suitable for almost everyone in all these different aspects.
How long does the taranaki falls walk take?
Unlike many of the other walks in the area, the Taranaki Falls walk is not as difficult and does not take a whole day to complete. The time needed to complete the walk is roughly two hours adding on extra time for photo and food stops if they are needed.
The great thing about this walk is that the star of the walk, the waterfall, is located pretty much halfway through the walk. This means that after only one hour of walking you will be admiring the stunning 20 meter waterfall that is Taranaki falls.
While the walk is estimated to take around two hours, allow yourself some extra time to enjoy your surroundings and explore around the waterfall and its surroundings. Accidents can also happen so it is also good to allow some extra time should you need it.
What is the difficulty of the walk?
The walk to Taranaki falls is classed as an easy walk due to the distance and the terrain you encounter on the way. The total distance you will cover on the walk is 6 kilometres, so is fairly easy for many people as the majority of it is flat with a quick stair climb to the top of the waterfall.
The loop track is very well maintained and easy to follow with clear paths and stairs and bridges in place when needed. The track is mostly gravel with some shorter, uneven parts over small rocks and tree roots down near the river.
If you want to go right up to the waterfall, you will need to leave the main track and walk over some larger rocks to get closer. There is no track here so you will need to find your own route. The rocks can be slippery from the water so watch where you step when making your way through.
What is the scenery Like on the Taranaki Falls walk?
One of the cool parts about the Taranaki Falls walk is the ever changing scenery. One minute you are walking through the native bush along the river, and the next you on a dry, exposed cliff top. It really does feel like you are in a completely different area multiple times along the walk.
Of course the waterfall is the main attraction of the whole walk is Taranaki Falls itself. The waterfall is quite narrow but does tower over you at 20 metres tall. The beautiful turquoise colour of the water at the bottom contrasts so well with the red rock and green fauna that surrounds it, making it ver easy to sit here for a while and just enjoy the view.
Being a mountainous area a large part of the walk is quite exposed and therefore there is a lack of shelter in some areas. Keep and eye on the weather before you head out and make sure to have good sun protection with you as well.
Where to stay Near the Taranaki Falls Walk
There are plenty of local accommodations to stay in near the Taranaki Falls walk. These range from highly rated hotels to family holiday homes and budget friendly camp grounds. The two main towns you can stay in near the Taranaki Falls walk are Whakapapa Village which is right where the walk starts and National Park which is located 10 minutes away.
Campground
Whakapapa Holiday Park is the best option if you are looking for something a little more budget friendly but still right in the heart of Tongariro National park. The campground, like the Chateau, is only a few minutes walk from the start of the Taranaki Falls walk in Whakapapa Village.
There are many different accomodation options at Whakapapa Holiday Park from large fully contained cabins to basic tent sites and everything in between. There are large bathrooms and rustic kitchen and dinning area perfect for a relaxed self made meal after completing the Taranaki Falls walk.
The campground is surrounded but native bush full with birds peacefully away, making it a calm place to spend your evenings after a big day exploring. Breakfast and lunch is sorted with the cafe cart located out the front of the campground. Coffees, toasted sandwiches, hot chips and lots of other goodies can be purchased here.
Whakapapa Holiday Park is a great choice for those wanting a simple but relaxing accomodation with easy access to the Taranaki Falls walk.
Holiday Homes
There are plenty of options when it comes to holiday homes near Tongariro National Park. However, most of these are located about 10 minutes away in National Park. This area is the main spot to stay if you are looking for a good easily accessible spot to stay.
Renting a holiday home for your trip to the Taranaki Falls walk is a great choice if you have a larger group or want a bit more of a fully contained house compared to a hotel or camp cabin. The holiday homes come in all sorts of price ranges and there is a big variation in the number of bedrooms and facilities provided.
While National Park is further away from all the good spots in Whakapapa Village, it has far more in terms of food options and gear hire. There is a small supermarket where you can get most items you will need and a few different places to hire out gear for hikes, biking or skiing and snowboarding.
Staying in a holiday home works perfectly for many people coming to enjoy the Taranaki Falls walk. With most only a 10 minute drive away it is still easy to get to where you want to go in Tongariro National Park.
Other things to do near Taranaki Falls
The Taranaki Falls walk is certainly a highlight in Tongariro National Park, however there are so many other things to do while in the area. This area is an adventure addicts dream with everything from epic hikes to rafting and mountain biking. There is something to please every type of person on any kind of budget.
Tama Lakes – Continuation from Taranaki falls Walk
The Tama Lakes walk continues on from the Taranaki Falls walk. This walk takes you up to the upper and lower Tama Lakes, perfect for those wanting a full day hike. The walk takes around 5 to 6 hours return and the track is just one way so you will need to walk out the same way you came.
The Tama Lakes walk leads you closer in towards the mountains, meaning more of that unique alpine landscape. Just like the Taranaki Falls walk, the track is well maintained, however the terrain on this walk undulates much more.
Tawhai Falls – Bonus walk near Taranaki Falls Walk
Tawhai Falls is a great little bonus walk to do on your way in or out of National Park. This is a quick 20 minute, mostly flat walk that takes you to a stunning little waterfall that was used as Gollum’s Pool in Lord of the Rings.
This walk is great for families and even has some small areas to sit down on the rocks and relax. The waterfall is much smaller than Taranaki Falls, but the colour of the water and the strong power of the water makes it one you don’t want to skip out on.
The Northern Circuit
The Northern Circuit is a 45 kilometer, 3 to 4 day walk in Tongariro National Park. The walk takes you around Mount Ngāuruhoe and includes popular sections of the Tongariro Crossing day hike. Highlights include the Emerald Lakes, views of Mount Ngāuruhoe and of course Taranaki Falls.
This walk is for the more experienced hikers. The track is well maintained and signposted, however some parts can be steep and slippery so caution must always be taken. For more information on this walk, please visit the Department of Conservation Website.
Are you in?
The Taranaki Falls walk is an amazing 2 hour hike in Tongariro National Park and is the perfect family friendly hike for those visiting the area. With its wide range of scenery and stunning waterfall to relax by it is one not to miss.
