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Taranaki · Hiking

Nature Walk: Walking Guide, Time & Access

A walker seen from behind carrying a grey and orange backpack, with hills in the background.

Illustrative photograph. General backpacking illustration; location unverified. This is not a photograph of the named route or evidence of its terrain, condition or difficulty.

Photo: Cody Black / Unsplash License / Details

This family friendly walk takes you past the Ambury Monument and through the forest.

Last checked 8 October 2026 · Department of Conservation

By Outdoor Next Editorial standards

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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 information
Location source

DOC track reference point, not a verified trailhead, entrance or the whole route.

Reference point: -39.27157, 174.09468. 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
800 m loop
Walking time
25 min
Track grade
Easiest
Location
North Egmont area / 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

This family friendly walk takes you past the Ambury Monument and through the forest.

This DOC directory entry covers Nature Walk in Taranaki, within North Egmont area / 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: 800 m loop
  • Walking time: 25 min
  • DOC grade: Easiest

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 visitor centre, follow the boardwalk to the viewing platform past the Camphouse.

From here, the track leads up to Ambury Monument where it turns left and descends to cross Translator Road. It then re-enters the forest to head down to the visitor centre.

Getting there

The track starts at the North Taranaki Visitor Centre.

To get there, head 13 km south from New Plymouth to Egmont Village. Turn off State Highway 3 on to Egmont Road and follow it for 16 km to the end. The visitor centre is signposted from the junction.

Know before you go

The track has steps and is steep in some places with a few big drop-offs near the track edge. Keep an eye on children.

Be prepared for changeable weather

Weather on the mountain changes rapidly – you must be well prepared with suitable clothing and equipment for all weather and conditions.

Snow, high rainfall and storm damage can make tracks impassable – many rivers and streams are unbridged.

Check the Te Papa-Kura-o-Taranaki weather forecast before you go.

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.

Sources & official links

  1. 1.Nature Walk: official route information— Department of Conservation
  2. 2.DOC walking and tramping directory— Department of Conservation

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