Egmont National Park

Egmont National Park (Maori: Te Papakura o Taranaki) is in Taranaki, New Zealand. It was the second national park to be established in Aotearoa way back in 1900, with only Tongariro National Park in Waikato/Manawatu-Whanganui being established prior.

Understand

See Taranaki#Understand for some discussion on the mountain and its significance for the Māori.

History

The park was established in 1900.

Landscape

The park is dominated by the dormant volcano of Taranaki, also known as Mount Egmont. The 9.6-km-radius reserve is surrounded by pasture on all around, giving it a distinct circular shape.

Flora and fauna

43 species of birds are found in the park, including the North Island brown kiwi, blue ducks (whio) and fernbird.

Visitor information

• Park website
• 1 Dawson Falls Visitors Centre, 1980 Manaia Road, Taranaki, ☏ +64 27 443 0248, [email protected]. Th–Su 9AM–4PM (closed M Tu W). (updated Oct 2024)
• 2 Taranaki/Egmont National Park Visitor Centre, 2879 Egmont Rd, ☏ +64 6 756 0990, [email protected]. Daily 8:30AM–3:30PM. (updated Oct 2024)

Get in

There isn't exactly one road into the park, but rather multiple roads that lead to different locations stepping from different towns due to the nature of the park being centred around a volcano, all the important ones of which are sealed. Although sealed, many of them are only wide enough to fit one car in both directions – regular passing loops exist, however.

The main road is Manaia Road from Opunake Rd, which leads from Stratford as it leads to the Dawson Falls precinct. To get to The Plateau precinct, use Pembroke Road west straight from Stratford.

Fees and permits

Egmont National Park, like all New Zealand national parks, is free to enter.

See

• 1 Dawson Falls (around 400 m from the visitor centre). The waterfall is around two meters wide and has a drop of 18 m. (updated Mar 2022)
• 2 Bells Falls. 30-metre-high waterfall. If you want to visit from the east, park in Newall, take the 1 Puniho Track, then it's around 4-hour walk via the round-the-mountain circuit. (updated Jan 2023)
• 3 Ahukawakawa Swamp. An around 3500 year old swamp, particularly interesting for botanists, with over 260 species of higher plants recorded. (updated Jan 2023)

Do

• 1 Mount Taranaki. The central stratovolcano is accessible from east side – e.g. from the visitor centres at Dawson Falls or 2 North Egmont. Climb from west side is possible, but there are no access roads there. Research shows the probability of eruption is around 40% until 2070. (updated Jan 2023)
• 2 Manganui Ski Area. A smaller (~1 km in length) ski resort right at the foot of the volcano. Accessible by road via 3 East Egmont. (updated Jan 2023)
• 3 Pouakai Circuit. This circuit track "starts" in North Egmont and will take you to the Pouakai peak. (updated Jan 2023)
• 4 Fanthams Peak. Secondary peak of the volcano, on the route to the main summit from Dawson Falls. (updated Jan 2023)

Eat

You will need to bring your own supplies, unless you are visiting the North Egmont section of the park, where the North Egmont Visitor Centre has a small cafeteria with basic roadhouse food.

Sleep

Lodging

• 1 Konini Lodge, Manaia Road, Kaponga, ☏ +64 6 756 0990. The primary lodge within the park which contains 38 bunks. However, as of 4 September 2024, it has been closed temporarily due to structural repairs with no reopening date announced. (updated Oct 2024)
• 2 The Camphouse, 2879 Egmont Road, Taranaki. Road-accessible cabins towards the northern end of North Mount Egmont. (updated Oct 2024)