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Location & access
DOC track reference point, not a verified trailhead, entrance or the whole route. Check the official route directions before travel.
Official location informationLocation source
DOC track reference point, not a verified trailhead, entrance or the whole route.
Reference point: -39.22032, 174.03775. WGS84 coordinates retained at the official service's returned precision; decimal resolution is not survey accuracy. Source positional accuracy is not specified.
DOC Maps walking and tramping reference point (WGS84), exact official-page GUID / Department of Conservation. Checked 2026-10-12.
Key facts
- Distance
- 5 km one way
- Walking time
- 2 hr 30 min one way
- Track grade
- Intermediate
- Location
- Te Papa-Kura-o-Taranaki
- Dog access
- No dogs. Other pets on conservation land rules.
Checked against official sources on 8 October 2026. Rules and conditions are set by Department of Conservation — confirm with them before you go.
Route overview
On a fine day enjoy spectacular views of Taranaki and the Pouākai tarns on this day hike or overnight tramp.
This DOC directory entry covers Mangorei Track to Pouākai tarns in Taranaki, within Te Papa-Kura-o-Taranaki. Where DOC groups several walks, times and grades refer to the listed options rather than a single continuous itinerary.
Distance, time and grade
- Distance: 5 km one way
- Walking time: 2 hr 30 min one way
- DOC grade: Intermediate
Access and alerts
Source checked 2026-10-08. This page is a dated snapshot, not a live track-status report. Check current DOC route information immediately before travelling. An absence of listed alerts does not establish that a route is open.
Dog access
No dogs. Other pets on conservation land rules.
Description
From the car park, follow the path up to Mangorei Road and walk to the road end. Follow the track signage up a private driveway and into the bush.
This track requires good fitness as it involves several hours of walking uphill. This track is mostly wooden steps and batten boardwalk – be warned these can be a tripping hazard.
The track climbs steadily through regenerating forest, mountain cedar and low alpine scrub to the 34 bunk Pouākai Hut (stays must be booked in advance).
This is a good day tramp or you can stay overnight at Pouākai Hut.
Pouakai tarns
Distance: 700 m
You can walk five minutes up past the hut for views of Ahukawakawa, a large wetland. From here, turn left at the track junction and follow the Pouākai Track for another ten minutes until you reach the Pouākai tarns (pools).
Getting there
The track begins at the car park at the end of Mangorei Road, around 20 minutes’ drive from New Plymouth.
Follow State Highway 3 south from New Plymouth (towards Inglewood and Whanganui). Turn right onto Mangorei Road, then follow the road for 13.6 km. Turn into the car park on the right, just before the road end.
Shuttle transport options are available – search online for commercial operators.
Know before you go
Expect extreme weather
Taranaki is famous for its fast-changing and extreme weather. Check the forecast before you go and be prepared for rain and cold, even in summer.
This is an alpine area and it is common to have snow and ice on the higher parts of the track in winter. Contact the North Taranaki Visitor Centre for current track conditions.
What to pack
Note: Toilet paper is not provided at Pouākai Hut, take your own.
What to pack for a day trip
What to pack for an overnight trip
Pack warm and waterproof clothing
Be ready for any weather by packing a waterproof jacket and plenty of warm layers. Wear sturdy, comfortable shoes (tramping boots are recommended).
Pack warm and waterproof clothing
Be ready for any weather by packing a waterproof jacket and plenty of warm layers. Wear sturdy, comfortable shoes (tramping boots are recommended).
What to pack for a day trip
What to pack for an overnight trip
History and culture
The majestic andesitic volcano Taranaki Maunga (2518 m) is the central point of the 34,170 ha Te Papa-Kura-o-Taranaki. Approximately 125,000 years old, it is the park’s most recent volcanic peak. Last erupting around 1755 AD the mountain is now considered dormant.
Local Māori believe Taranaki Maunga once stood with the mountains of the central North Island. After a dispute over the maiden Pihanga, Taranaki fled his ancestral home, carving out the bed of the Whanganui River on his journey to the coast.
Egmont National Park became New Zealand’s second national park (after Tongariro) in 1900. Named Mount Egmont by Captain Cook, the traditional Māori name of Mount Taranaki has been more widely used. In 2025 the park was renamed Te Papa-Kura-o-Taranaki and mountain Taranaki Maunga.
Sources and reuse
Route descriptions and practical information reproduced from the Department of Conservation, Crown copyright, under CC BY 4.0, subject to DOC's copyright policy. Formatting has been adapted, including flattening page sections; follow the original DOC page for maps, section-specific layout, current notices and linked documents. Outdoor Next is independent and is not endorsed by DOC.
The accompanying photograph is a licensed general hiking illustration, not a photograph of this route.
