Guided Walking Tours
Love exploring the region by foot? Taupo Kayaking Adventures can take you and your group on a guided walking tour on any of the trails around the Great Lake Taupo region and Tongariro National Park.
Our most popular guided tour is the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, rated one of the best one day walks in the world by the Lonely Planet. If you prefer a shorter climb up a mountain, try Mt Tauhara. The walk to Huka Falls or Aratiatia Dam is great for a family outing.
Our guides will be able to point out the various flora and fauna on the trails, tell you the stories of the people and land and most of all, keep you safe. We will also be providing other guided walking tours around the Tongariro National Park very soon.
Tongariro Alpine Crossing
Grade : Intermediate – Advanced
A moderate to good level of fitness is required.
Length : 19.4km one way
Time : 7-8 hours in Summer, 8-9 hours in Winter
Elevation : 1886m at Red Crater
New Zealand’s oldest national park and a dual World Heritage Site. The Tongariro National Park is rich in both cultural identity and dramatic, awe-inspiring natural scenery. Unique landforms, including the volcanic peaks of Ngauruhoe, Tongariro and Ruapehu ensure the Tongariro Alpine Crossing is considered a world-renowned trek.
The Tongariro Alpine Crossing is heralded as the best one-day trek available in New Zealand, while others say it ranks among the top ten single-day treks in the world. Many who complete the 19.4-kilometre journey will tell you the climbs can be steep and the weather unpredictable, though worth it in every aspect.
Kaimanawa Ranges Epic 3 Day Adventure – Umukarikari, Waipakahi Stream & Mt Urchin
Grade : Advanced
A good level of fitness is required.
Length : Approximately 31.6km Loop
Time : 3 Days (Day 1: 6 – 8hours) (Day 2: 8hours) (Day 3: 4 – 6hours)
Elevation : 1591 at Umukarikari
For our epic 3-day adventure we offer a unique experience where we will traverse a range of different terrains, from the high alpines of Umukarikari and Mt Urchin, to the clear fresh waters of the Waipakihi River. Throughout our journey you will be surrounded by a unique scheduled landscape of mountains, lush native forest, and beautiful river valleys. In the morning you will be greeted by the sounds of various native birds like the kererū (NZ pigeon), fantail (pīwakawaka), bellbird (korimako), rifleman (tītipounamu), North Island robin (toutouwai) and grey warbler (riroriro). At night enjoy the sounds of morepork perched in the trees and listen carefully for the infamous kiwi. Many other rare varieties of birds like the kākā can also be found here but you’ll have to come see for yourself.
Spa Park to Huka Falls / Aratiatia Dam
Enjoy a scenic walk along the banks of the Waikato River to Huka Falls, one of the most visited natural attractions in New Zealand. This is an easy hour and a half long walk suitable for the whole family.
We will begin our walk from Spa Park where you will have the option of a soak in the natural hot stream either at the start of or the end of your walk. From here, the track winds along the riverbank to the mighty Huka Falls, offering lovely views along the way.
Return via the same track or opt to walk another 2 hours further on to Aratiatia Rapids. Here you can watch thousands of litres of water being released from the Aratiatia Dam, creating a spectacular flow of water through a narrow gorge.
Pick up from Huka Falls or Aratiatia Rapids can be arranged if you don’t wish to walk back to Spa Park.
Mount Tauhara
Grade : Easy – Intermediate
A moderate of fitness is required.
Length : 5.6km return
Time : Allow 4 Hours (2.5-3 Hours Walking Time)
Elevation : 1088m
Mt Tauhara is a popular approximately 3 hour return trick. This 2.8km trail (one way) climbs to the summit at 1,088 metres, offering panoramic views. On a clear day you will be able to get good views of Lake Taupo, Mt Tongariro and Mt Ruapehu.
The trail is steep in places but still accessible to children who are used to hiking. Most locals use Mt Tauhara as their training ground before attempting the Tongariro Alpine Crossing.
Great Lake Trail
The Great Lake Trail is a shared walking and biking trail, part of the Nga Haerenga NZ Cycle Trail. The track crosses the ridges of Lake Taupo’s western bays and drops down to lake level in between, offering spectacular views of Lake Taupo and the mountains beyond, dramatic cliffs, natural bush and beautiful waterfalls.
The Great Lake Trail is comprised of 3 sections: The 22.5km W2K section (Whakaipo To Kinloch) including the headland loop, The 19.5km Kawakawa section (Orakau and K2K trails) and the 30km Waihaha section (Waihaha and Waihora trails).
You can choose to walk any or all of the sections in a day or multi day walk. As this is not a loop trek, all your transportation and logistics will be arranged by us.
For more information about these tracks please click the following link which will take you to Mountain Biking page – which explains the trails in further depth.
Please contact us if you would like book a tour.
Tongariro National Park
The Tongariro National Park became New Zealand’s first national park in 1894 and holds dual UNESCO World Heritage Site status that recognises its Maori cultural and spiritual significance as well as its outstanding natural landscape.
Most of the shorter day walks in and around the Tongariro National Park are on well-surfaced tracks and are suitable for families. For the more fit and adventurous, you may like to attempt the longer multi-day tracks which follow poled routes only. Some are unformed, completely unmarked and require special care, navigation and high-level backcountry skills and experience.
The varying landscape of the Tongariro National Park features herb elds, forests, lakes, streams and desert-like areas, as well as dramatic terrain formed by volcanic activity. Whichever track you decide on, it is essential to hire a professional guide as terrains can be tricky and the weather unpredictable.
