mount taranaki

This is a tough climb, don't be fooled! I am fit and made it in a 9 hour return day, not a lot of stop time, photos of course ;-)Its VERY steep and there are no paths after a certain level, you have to rely on the post markers. 2 hours of bouldering near to the top. We had a perfect day, clear views all round. Dont forget its all exposed and you will need sun block ;-)

Took the trail up from Stratford which was recommended as the best approach to the mount. It lived up to its expectation. Especially if you aren't the outdoor type and cant do much walking. The Dawson Falls were a 10 mins walk away which was really awesome.

A longish drive but well worth it, stunning views from the top. Even better on an open clear day. Well worth the drive

we are not young or fit enough to climb to the top but enjoyed the 2 hour ramble around the Veronica Track from the Visitors Centre which provides excellent coffee and cakes. Try to do it before 10am when it starts to cloud over

Its worth noting that the mountain is by the sea and as such suffers from cloud rolling in so climb it at or before dawn and get the sunrise on the way up. The scree makes the climbing extremely difficult and hiking boots are a MUST. The weather can change in an instant from warm summers day to freezing so take warm clothing and waterproofs. People die on this mountain so don't take risks. The view from the top at dawn is awesome especially when the clouds below are lit by the rising sun. I was on top for 7:30 having set off at 4:30 and raced up with hiking poles. The 'normal' time is 5 hours.

It took me eight hours to hike up and down Mt. Taranaki from the visitor center. I had sturdy hiking boots, which were a great help on the scree fields halfway up. I also had a good wind shell as well as an insulating layer. These were necessary since the peak was at -1 C even though the visitor center had a high of ~19 C at the same time. The trail is quite well marked given the terrain. Make sure you are comfortable holding on to rock faces as you climb up and down, since although it isn't steep enough to need full gear/protection, it is certainly not flat enough for hands-free climbing.

I am just back from this. I have done a fair number of hikes but unfortunately I didn't succeed climbing this. A combination of driving wind, rain, coldness and lack of visibility meant I couldn't complete it.Later on it cleared up so there was good views of above and surrounding area in New Plymouth belowThe mountain is stunning but check forecasts and bring appropriate gear. Even in mid March this can be a tough ask.

For 60 years I had never climbed my home mountain, but Hillary made a statement about Everest, so I also stated ' I knocked the b****** off'. Took me 11 hours (slow) up and down from North Egmont car park. Only suitable for lean sporty types - if you are lounge lizard forget it. Its easier up the Dawson Falls start, but North Egmont starts higher up. Its a 4WD road for 1st leg to Tahurangi lodge at 1500mts taking around 1.5 hrs. Then up the gorge and steps to foot of scoria slope where you take 2 steps forward , one step back (you get the drift) and then the lizard rock, no track as such, just follow the poles to the crater and then over the ice to summit rock which is around 50 mts up from the crater. This is a summer climb description only and in good weather. Take plenty of water and good hiking boots/gaiters

Mount Taranaki dominates the skyline for most of the region. It has numerous tracks, ranging from a mild 20 minute loop to the option of ascending to the summit. There are also various tramping huts and cafes and restaurants to keep you occupied. The North Egmont visitor centre is well equipped with information about where to go, the history of the mountain, flora and fauna and so on (go to Puke Ariki in New Plymouth to get more info). Just don't make the mistake of treating the mountain casually. Always carry enough gear to cover a change in the weather, because it is easy to get caught out. Having total cell phone coverage whilst tramping in most areas is pretty cool, but you can still get into trouble if you are not prepared! Enjoy our mountain.

Wow! Wow! Wow!Awesome drive up to the mountain with views to die for astounding experience just the drive up there was great.Upon arrival to the car park the view over New Plymouth was incredible the day was sunny and clear so visibility was perfect for photos.The mountain was an amazing to look at and the clear visibility mad taking photos a pure joy.

A challenging walk to the summit and a mountain that demands respect. Make sure you check the weather forecast before attempting the climb it can be very unforgiving. Views at the top are incredible. Best to climb in the summer when there is very little snow. There are loads of other awesome walks around the mountain without having to climb to the summit.

This eight hour climb needs a reasonable fitness level as it is steep and has claimed more lives than any other mountain in New Zealand so you need the proper alpine equipment if you are summiting. The views are to die for from the top. Start your climb at 2am amd you will see the sun rise. Take lots of drink as you can get dehydrated and don't attempt in bad weather or if there is snow. Climbing times are from November to late April.There are many excellent huts and tramps on the lower slopes especially the Pouakai circuit.

We have visited this mountain numerous times, from a climb to the summit with our. then, teen kids, to tramps and easy walks and strolls. Where ever you'd like to start, there'll be a track nearby. The Egmont Visitors Centre is a good place to start and find out which tracks are suitable for you, on the particular day. We also found the Dawson Falls Lodge a good place to dine and spend the night, maybe if you have something to celebrate. We've been for lunch at the Mountain House, we found the food excellent and the staff very friendly. Currently we are dreaming up an excuse to have dinner and an overnight stay, if that's anywhere near the lunch experience, we'll give them a Big Thumbs Up! A visit to Mt Egmont/Taranaki is well worth the effort for any occasion.

So many short walks to undertake. Have visited North Taranaki end a few times this year and enjoyed the Maketawa Track, Veronica Walk, Connett Walk and Ngatoro Walk. Will hopefully make it to the summit before I get too old!

I was nervous to do this hike as it has a really high summit. We are from Canada and it has a high elevation even for our hikes in the rockies. However, we had no problems. We did the hike in 6 hours with a leisurely hour lunch at the top. We made it to the top in just over 3 hours. There is a lot of different terrain from concrete road, scree, lava rocks and snow. Using hiking poles makes it a bit more easy and enjoyable. We noticed a lot of Kiwi's don't use hiking poles but they really do make a hike a little easier and you feet more stable. We recommend doing it early in the day as the clouds came in the afternoon. Enjoy!