
Mount Taranaki: picture-perfect peak
Taranaki is about as close as you can get to the ideal of volcanic beauty – almost perfectly round, its nearly symmetrical cone rising to a pointed summit, with a single crater.
Egmont National Park with its iconic cone of Mount Taranaki is home to hundreds of kilometres of walking and tramping tracks, from gentle day walks to more challenging tramps.
For a family-friendly walk, wander through the intriguingly-named Goblin Forest, via Dawson Falls on the southern slopes of the mountain, to Wilkies Pools.
Experience improbably lush forest dripping in moss, a majestic 18-metre waterfall and spectacular plunge pools where melted snow has carved a path through solid rock.
For for the actively inclined, the Pouakai Crossing is a more intrepid day walk on Taranaki’s northern slopes with views you’ll no doubt recognise for the symmetrical reflections of the summit in the alpine lakes. You’ll want to bring a camera for this one.