Around the Mountain Circuit – Egmont National Park

Timings Dawson falls to Waiaua Gorge Hut: 3 hours 50 minutes Waiaua Gorge Hut to Kahui Hut: 3 hours 15 minutes Kahui Hut to Holly Hut: 3 hours 40 minutes Holly Hut to Dawson Falls: 5 hours Day one We spent Friday night at Konini Lodge, by Dawson Falls. MetService had been warning of “severe … Read more

Pouakai Circuit – Egmont National Park

As is the tradition, we met at Wellington train station at 5pm, for a 5.15pm departure to Egmont National Park. We arrived at the Camphouse, our accommodation for the night, which is situated close to the Egmont National Park Visitor Centre (North Egmont)/ DOC office, at around 10.30pm. The Camphouse is located right beside the … Read more

Holly Hut

Intro The group had signed up to do Syme Hut, but changed plans given the conditions and out of respect for the two climbers who lost their lives on Mt Taranaki 4 May. Our first night was at Konini Lodge by the Dawson Falls Visitor Centre. Saturday we drove 50 minutes around the mountain and … Read more

Pouakai Circuit

The classic shot of Mount Taranaki (near sunset)

This was my second time on the Pouakai Circuit. The last time I went, just over a year ago, the track was underwater and there was no mountain to be seen – the pictures in that trip report  say it all. While I absolutely enjoyed that trip, I was hoping for much better weather. This … Read more

Pouakai Circuit

Platform 9, 5.15pm, we know the drill. Two groups heading up to Taranaki, 6 to do the Pouakai Circuit and 5 for a tramp to Lake Dive Hut. The formalities continued with kebabs in Bulls, par de course for many trips to the western side of the North Island. We arrived at Konini Lodge and … Read more

Pouakai Circuit

We drove up to Taranaki on Friday night with the standard stop at Bulls. The journey took around 5.5 hours in total with the weather steadily deteriorating as we got closer. We stayed at The Camphouse on Friday night, arriving about 22:30 hours. It’s just above the the North Egmont DOC Visitor Centre. As well … Read more

Taranaki East Ridge – plus bonus Pouakai Circuit

Climbing Taranaki East Ridge plus a day trip around the Pouakai Circuit

Taranaki East Ridge – plus bonus Pouakai Circuit Two days at Egmont National Park – Day 1 on the Pouakai Circuit and then Day 2 climbing the East Ridge of Taranaki. Ten of us drove to Taranaki/ Mt Egmont on Friday evening and camped at a picnic spot along the North Egmont Road. Saturday was … Read more

Pouakai Circuit

 Our trip started badly which was luckily not a sign of things to come in terms of fun and mood, if not weather. Traffic out of Wellington was slow and the sun was blazing into the van turning it into sauna. It took us about an hour to realise we hadn’t actually turned the A/C … Read more

Pouakai circuit – When does a tramp become a wade?

When does a tramp become a wade? 6 of us set out on Friday evening from the train station with some trepidation given the forecast for howling gales and torrential downpours to attempt the Pouakai Circuit on Mount Taranaki, leaving from and returning to the North Egmont visitors centre. Frances, our intrepid leader, was (tactically?) … Read more