From Dawson's Falls Visitor Centre a series of short tracks lead off....
Kapuni Walks (1 hr) - Kapuni River, Dawson Falls, Lava flows, forest.
Wilkies Pools (1hr 30min) - Kapuni River, Twin Falls, Bubbling springs, beautiful forest.
The Ridge Walk (1hr) - Psyches Bath, Goblin Forest, 1655 & 1750 eruption damage
Kaupokonui Round Trip (4hr) - Kaupokonui River, Hasties Hill, Beehives Rock, Good views.
From the east side of Mt Egmont (East Egmont) the following trails are available...
Potaema Swamp (30min) - Native swampland
Kamahi Walk (15min) - Kamahi Forest (Excellent vegetation)
Patea Walk (2hr) - Kamahi Forest, Dry riverbeds
Curtis Falls (3hr) - Beautiful Waterfall
York Track (10min - 2hr) - Old stone crushing plant, Old railway siding.
From North Egmont find the following trails...
Connett Walk (30min) - Kamahi forests
Ngatoro Walk (30min) - Cloud Forests
Veronica Walk (90min -4hr) - Razorback ridge, Humphries Castle, Excellent views
Ngatoro Track (2hr) - Ancient forest (Rimu, Rata)
Mangaoraka Walk (2hr) - Beautiful forest
DAY WALKS
Most day walks venture onto the higher flanks of Mt Egmont. They can only be tackled in good weather, and you must travel prepared. Mt Egmont has the dubious honour of killing more people than any other New Zealand mountain ...
The Summit Route - Starts at Dawsons Falls, climbing steeply to the summit crater. This track should not be attempted in snow conditions. An iceaxe & crampons may be required on occassions.
North Egmont Summit Route - Scree climb to rocky ridgeline called the "lizard". Allow 7-8 hours return. This is a dangerous unforgiving route on the mountain.
TRAMPING
The "Round the Mountain" track must certainly be the most popular tramping route in the Egmont region. It will take you anything from 18 hours to 7 days, dependant on what level you walk the mountain, and what sections you utilise. Very well provided for with backcountry huts. An excellent tramp in the summer months, damned dangerous at higher levels in winter - Take Care !
Nearby the Pouakai and Kaitake Ranges provide alternative tramps to the Mt Egmont circuits. You may link these to the Round the Mountain track if you so desire.
MOUNTAINEERING
As has been stated earlier Mt Egmont is a killer, most victims have fallen off the ice near the summit, crashing over the tall rock bluffs to their deaths. Exposure is the second biggest killer on the mountain, with unprepared trampers being caught out by the unpredictable severe mountain weather.
Having said that Mt Egmont, provides experienced climbers with excellent ice climbing conditions in the good seasons. An energetic climb, finishing the day bivying the night in the Crater, catching sunrise, then glissading the "hill" all go together to form a memorable climb.
A ROUGH GUIDE TO...
Accommodation
On the mountain side there are lodges, huts and campsites available, while the major centres of New Plymouth, Inglewood, Stratford provide most forms of accommodation. For those interested in Backpacker style lodgings New Plymouth provides several choices, and good transport access to the mountain (Dawson's Falls).
Facilities
New Plymouth is the centre of all commercial activity in the region, and provides ALL facilities. The smaller country towns do their best to provide most facilities, however choice is very limited.
The dormant 2518 metre volcanic cone of Mt Taranaki (Mt Egmont) is certainly the prominent feature of this landscape. Its ice capped peak rises some 1800 metres above the surrounding agricultural landscape. The smaller "vent" cones of Pouakai and Patuha is to the northwest of the main massif.