Nothing brings you closer to Taupo’s unforgettable wilderness than walking through it.
Taupo’s untouched ancient forests and swamplands, impressive geothermal wonderlands, and breath-taking volcanoes are crisscrossed with excellent walking and hiking tracks of all lengths and levels of difficulty. From pleasant lakefront and riverside strolls like the Great Lake Walkway and Huka Falls trails, through to the Tongariro River Trail and Lake Rotopounamu native bush walks ringing with birdsong, to the epic full-day alpine trek known as the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, which treks across a cratered volcanic moonscape dotted with gemstone-coloured lakes.
Thermal walkways at Craters of the Moon and Orakei Korako expose the power and mystery of the earth’s inner workings in the strange and wonderful landscapes of Taupo’s geothermal areas, and walks in the Pureora Forest Park take you deep into a magical and ancient world of moss covered trees, crystal-clear rivers and melodious birdsong.
Taupo has some of the best walking tracks in New Zealand, all just awaiting the addition of your boot-prints.
Explore them below, then start planning your walk with New Zealand Mountain Safety Council's Plan My Walk app. An awesome app that provides you with useful information on each track with active alerts, the weather forecast, and the essential gear to bring. Click here to check it out
The Orakau Trail is a nice gradual downhill which takes you through stunning native wetlands before dropping you into the secluded Kawakawa Bay.
This short loop walk from Kakaho Campsite takes in the fantastic views and the tall trees of the Pureora Forest.
This shared-use track starts at the Huka Falls carpark and ends at Otupo Flat.
The Ketetahi Track is a section of the Tongariro Alpine Crossing. You can get close up views of the active Te Maari Craters.
The Whakaipo Section of the Great Lake Trails is made up of the W2K Trail and the Headland Loop Trail.
We organise, plan and operate small group bus tours for student groups. Whatever your needs for your group travel within New Zealand we can offer complete logistics and full operation of your tour.
Start at Rhubarb Café, visit the historic suspension bridge, ride through native forests and farmland, explore boardwalks and sculptures, and pass through Huihuitaha Wetland to finish at Pokaiwhenua Bridge carpark. The trail offers a mix of gentle undulations and scenic views, making it perfect for a relaxed and enjoyable ride.
One of Tongariro National Park’s best short walks. Adrift provides professional guides and instruction, transport, equipment and gear hire. We guide every day and guarantee trip departures with wind rain snow and even shine.
Explore the Tongariro River Trail in Turangi, offering gentle riverside rides and stunning native bush. Cross a scenic swing bridge and stop at the Tongariro National Trout Centre for a picnic and learning experience, surrounded by breathtaking mountain views. Perfect for the whole family.
The Tama Lakes track forms part of the Tongariro Northern Circuit Great Walk and is a great alternative to the Tongariro Alpine Crossing.
