Pouakai
Once the same size and shape as Taranaki, Pouakai is now an eroded shadow of its former self. Offering great vantage points for viewing Mt Taranaki, Pouakai is a much lower summit, perhaps for those days when Mt Taranaki is out of bounds.
| List Status | Official |
| Elevation | 1,400?m?(4,593?ft) |
| Location/List | North Island, New Zealand |
| Region | Taranaki/Wanganui/Manawatu |
| Location Coordinates | 39? 14′ 16″ S, 174? 0′ 52″ E |
| Nearest Town/s | Stratford, New Plymouth
|
| Geology | Volcano |
| Translation | a gigantic bird |
| Recommended Route | |
|---|---|
Duration  |
7-9 hours (return) |
| Distance | 17.8?km?(11.1?mi) |
| Start/End Points | Dover Rd, Mangonui Rd, or Maude Rd |
| Difficulty |
Medium |
| Track conditions |
Track, Mud, Farmland (shut any gates!), Rocky surface |
| Season |
December to April |
| Sights | Views, Rivers, Maori heritage , Views of Taranaki, Maori oven, Mangakotukutuku Falls. |
| Hazards | Alpine weather, Snow, Ice, Mist |
Getting There
Public Transport
There is no public bus service, but Eastern-taranaki.co.nz offers a shuttle service.
Google Earth Map
- You can also
view Pouakai in Google Earth
NZ Topographic Map
Our Recommended Route
There are numerous options for bagging Pouakai. There are day tramps to the trig up either Maude Track, Mangorei Track, or Dover Track.
For more information, check out these web pages:
Route Options
As well as the numerous tracks up to the Pouakai, there is also a 2-3 day loop circuit you take from the North Egmont visitor centre. Known as ‘The Pouakai Circuit’, it doesn’t officially go to the Pouakai Trig, however the summit can easily be reached as a 2 hour return detour from Pouakai Hut. For more information on the circuit option, see DOC Pouakai Circuit.
Warning
Although not as high at Mt Taranaki, Pouakai can still be victim to sudden changes in weather and foul conditions. The same care should be taken as on the slopes of Taranaki. A clear day in New Plymouth does not indicate a clear day on the mountain, and up to date information should always be obtained from one of the local information centres (DOC Stratford (06 765 5144), or Egmont Visitor Centre (06 756 0990). Even then, you need to have clothing suitable for alpine weather, and if you’re on the mountain outside of summer, you would need experience using an ice axe and crampons. White out conditions are also common, so navigational equipment and skills are recommended.
While Mt Taranaki is currently dormant (last eruption 1755), it is still a volcano, and is capable of changing it’s volcanic status in the future. You can check out GNS’s latest volcanic alert bulletins here.
Height Profile
Weather and Webcam Links
- Met Service Local
- Met Service Mountain Forecast
- Met Service Weather Warnings
- Current Conditions in New Plymouth
- GNS Mt Taranaki webcam
External Links
References
 |
North Island Weekend Tramps (Bird’s Eye Guides), Shaun Barnett. (2008), See pages 59-61 |
A Dictionary of Maori Placenames, AW Reed, 1982