Mount Taupiri
Also known as Taupiri Mountain / Mt. Taupiri
Watching over the townships of Taupiri and Ngaruawahia, Mount Taupiri’s lower sacred slopes contain the Waikato?s most significant burial ground where past M?ori kings and the M?ori Queen are buried.
Bear in mind that the walk is in the vicinity of three different Urupa (burial grounds) so be respectful.
| List Status | Unofficial |
| Elevation | 288 m (945 ft) |
| Location/List | North Island, New Zealand |
| Region | Waikato/Coromandel |
| Location Coordinates | 37° 36′ 17″ S, 175° 11′ 10″ E |
| Nearest Town/s | Taupiri, Huntly, Ngaruawhia
|
| LINZ Topographic map/s | BD33 Hamilton |
| Range | Taupiri Range |
| Geology | Sedimentary |
| Recommended Route | |
|---|---|
Duration  |
1.10 hour (loop) |
| Distance | 2.5 km (1.6 mi) |
| Start/End Points | -37.609453, 175.1877 |
| Difficulty |
Easy |
| Track conditions |
Track, Unmarked Route, Mud |
| Season |
All Year |
| Sights | Views, Bush, Lakes, Rivers, Maori heritage , Trig |
| Hazards | Mud, Exposed track/risk of falling |
| Number of Geocaches | 2 |
Getting There
Access to the peak walk is quite tricky and potentially hazardous because of the nature of the turn off the highway.
Travelling south on SH1, take the gravel track on the left, just before the highway turns right onto the Mangawaka Stream bridge.
Travelling north and leaving Taupiri township, you?ll cross a roundabout (SH1b to the right) and a bridge over a murky looking stream, before veering left. Do not attempt to turn right onto the gravel track, rather a few hundred metres on turn left into a carpark down towards the river. Use this carpark if coming from the South as crossing this road is very dangerous…I know I lived there and saw the accidents, it only adds a few hundred metres to the walk and is much safer; then cross the highway and take the gravel track on the left, just before the highway turns right onto the Mangawaka Stream bridge. Carpark: -37.608138, 175.182828
Take care of the railway crossing. Be really careful. Continue on the gravel road. Parking is also available on the gravel before a green painted wharenui, this is the best parking if approaching from Huntly.
Google Earth Map
Route Options
Access is by foot along the farm track that curves to the left between two Urupa. Follow road to the first or second of two carved gate that are the track entrances. Tracks go up mountain and are fairly easy to follow, though can be extremely slippery in places when wet. The first track starts off through gorse but soon enters regenerating bush. Be prepared for an uphill walk. Of the two tracks, the first is the challenging one. The second is slightly less so, with a shorter depth to the step ups. some of these steps are very high.