Mangatepopo to National Park
Mangatepopo Track - 9km / 3-4hr
200m past the turnoff to the Mangatepopo Hut, turn SW onto the Mangatepopo Track.
For the first hour, the track skirts around Pukekaikiore then continues SW across exposed tussock and shrubland.
About 20 minutes before reaching the Whakapapa village, the Track joins the lower Taranaki Falls Track.
Follow it in an easterly direction until it ends at Ngauruhoe Place (100m below the Whakapapa Visitor Centre), Whakapapa Village.
Whakapapaiti Mangahuia Track - 13.5km / 5-6hr
The track traverses forest, wetlands, and open tussock lands. Can be boggy in the wet. The track may be rutted.
Leave the Whakapapa Village on Whakapapaiti Track. It starts opposite the Fire Station, just above the Holiday Park & 250m from the Whakapapa Visitor Centre.
Initially, the track undulates for a number of easy climbs and descents through groves of kaikawaka and cabbage trees amongst the beech forest.
The track then descends through an open tussock-covered area to a bridged river crossing over the Whakapapaiti Stream before coming across a track junction.
Turn right (NW) onto the Mangahuia Track and head to the Mangahuia campsite (2-3hr). There are a few stream crossings on this track, straight-forward in dry weather but tricky when the streams are up - take care and be prepared to wait for levels to drop.
From the Mangahuia campsite, walk 500m north on the vehicle track to join SH47. Turn left (west) and follow the road for 6km to the junction with SH4. Turn right (north) into the National Park Village, then turn left (west) onto Findlay St. It flows into Station Rd. At the very end is National Park Railway Station.
Conditions
- Vehicles on road or track
- Poisons & traps
- River crossings - Never cross flooded rivers
- Small stream crossings
- Track exposed to sun, wind or cold
- Weather extremes
- Few water sources - avoid drinking from streams with high mineral content
How to get here
Northern Start: Mangatepopo Track turnoff, Tongariro National Park
Southern End: Railway Station, Station Rd, National Park