Whakapapa Village to Mangatepopo Hut
Time: 3 - 5 hr. Distance: 8.5 km
This track is the first section of the Tongariro Northern Circuit, a 3 - 4 day walk that "winds its way around the active volcanoes Mount Tongariro and Mount Ngauruhoe, showcasing the spectacular volcanic terrain of the central North Island"
https://www.nationalpark.co.nz/activity/tongariro-northern-circuit.
I did the circuit back in 1998 with Sharon P, but began from the Mangatopopo roadend, so, this was my first time walking this section from the Whakapapa village. This was also my first solo overnight tramp since the 80's.
The track starts 100 metres below the Whakapapa Visitor Centre at Ngauruhoe Place and along the lower Taranaki Falls track.
"Heavily eroded in places the track crosses many stream beds. Ahead and to the right is Pukekaikiore, thought to be one of the older vents of the Tongariro complex. To the left is Pukeonake, a low scoria cone. Both Pukekaikiore and Pukeonake witnessed the last ice age when glaciers from Tongariro carved down through Mangatepopo Valley. The giant cone of Ngauruhoe and the flatter form of Tongariro are visible ahead. Ngauruhoe is a younger ‘parasitic’ cone on the side of Tongariro. For the last hour the track skirts around Pukekaikiore until it reaches the Mangatepopo Valley track. The Mangatepopo Hut is five minutes off of the main track
https://www.nationalpark.co.nz/activity/tongariro-northern-circuitI hadn't driven the Napier-Taupo road since Cyclone Gabrielle devastated the valley. The extent of the damage was really harrowing to see in real life.
The Eskdale Valley, State Highway 5 between Napier and Taupō
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| Reid's Farm Freedom Camp, Taupo |
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| Looking across to Tongariro from Taupo, mountains in cloud |
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| Driving towards Whakapapa |
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| The Chateau (sadly now closed) Whakapapa village |
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| Track route |
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| Whakapapa Holiday Camp |
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| Packed up ready to go |
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| Free parking (with a permit obtained from the visitor centre) |
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| The track starts by the Chateau |
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| Looking back at Whakapapa village |
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| Looking towards the hut in the distance, Ngauruhoe in the cloud |
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| Looking back |
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| The track was pretty munted |
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| wasn't expecting summer weather in late April, it was sooo hot! |
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| great little Sololight tent from Macpac, weighs hardly anything! |
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Very social multicultural evening in the hut, French, German,
South Korean, English, Kiwi, and Japanese |
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| Packing up went tents |
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Once the others had left for the circuit, I had the
hut to myself. Then the next lot arrrived just as I
was leaving. It's a busy hut. |
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| Big pot of tea with my breakfast😊 |
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DOC came in to update the weather board, clean the
toilets, and reset the mouse traps. Then it was quiet again.
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| New people arrive |
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Walking back out to the car park - easy 20 minute stroll. And
suddenly the wind blew the clouds off the tops of both
Ngauruhoe 2,291 m (7,516 ft) and Ruapehu 2,797 m (9,177 ft) |
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| Ruapehu (2,797m /9,177 ft) peeked out of the clouds briefly |
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As I walked out there were other trampers coming through who
had been attempting to complete theTongariroCrossing.
Many turned around at South Craterdue to bad weather
and so I was able to hop on their shuttle to the main road. |
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After being dropped off in the middle of nowhere I had to find
a way to get back to my car 30km away. Luckily I got a ride to
the Whakapapa turnoff. |
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| Not far to walk from here |
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| Drying the tent |
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| Drove along Lake Taupo to the hot pools at De Bretts |
