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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: -39.27028, 174.09515. 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
- 180 m one way
- Walking time
- 5 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
A wheelchair friendly boardwalk to a platform with stunning views of Taranaki and the coastline.
This DOC directory entry covers Viewing Platform 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: 180 m one way
- Walking time: 5 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 wheelchair friendly boardwalk through bush to a viewing platform and the historic Camphouse.
There are stunning views of Taranaki, the coastline and inland to the central North Island mountains. On a fine day Ruapehu, Ngaruahoe and Tongariro are visible.
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
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.
History and culture
Historic Camphouse
New Zealand’s oldest building within a national park is found at North Egmont. The historic Camphouse was originally used as military barracks in New Plymouth during the Taranaki Wars of the 1860s. The building was sledged to North Egmont in 1891 for use as accommodation.
The Camphouse has been restored and upgraded for backpacker accommodation – but many of its unique historic features such as handwrought corrugated iron with rifle firing slits (loopholes) and tongue and groove timber panelling are still visible.
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.
