Maude Track to Mangakotukutuku Falls: Walking Guide, Time & Access

Route overview

Maude Track leads from the end of Maude Road to the pretty Mangakotukutuku Falls.

This DOC directory entry covers Maude Track to Mangakotukutuku Falls 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: 2.8 km one way
• Walking time: 1 hr 30 min one way
• DOC grade: Advanced

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

Maude Track begins at the end of Maude Road. From the road end the track crosses farmland to the boundary of Te Papa-Kura-o-Taranaki. From here it climbs a ridge on the Pouākai Range through stands of regenerating and ancient forest, before turning left and dropping into the Mangakotukutuku stream valley. You’ll then arrive at the Mangakotukutuku Falls.

Getting there

The track begins at the end of Maude Road, around twenty minutes’ drive from New Plymouth.

Drive south from New Plymouth on State Highway 3 (signs towards Inglewood and Whanganui). Turn right onto Kent Road, then turn right onto Maude Road and follow it to the end. Car parking at the end of the road is limited.

Know before you go

Respect private farmland

This track passes through private farmland. Please leave gates as you find them and stay on the route.

Be ready for rain and cold

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.

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

The track is not well maintained and can be rough and slippery in places.

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 Mt 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 the 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.