Welcome to the Tongariro River Trail

The Tongariro River Trail project is now in the advanced planning stages.  This website is to advise all stakeholders and other interested parties of progress as it happens.

The Tongariro River Trail (TRT) is a new,innovative multi-day,tourist trail around the Tongariro river. TRT is  a loop trail that uses existing angler access tracks at Turangi and links with other existing walking &biking tracks up the eastern banks of the mighty Tongariro RIver,through a spectacular native bush setting to the Pillars of Hercules and Tree Trunk Gorge and returns  to Turangi down the western side of the Tongariro River.

The Tongariro River Trail provides a unique multi-day experience to walk,ride,and raft the upper Tongariro River as follows:

Day 1 –20+ km from Turangi to Poutu Intake focused on the mighty Tongariro River along east bank past world famous trout fishing pools through Rangipo Prison farm past Waipa Fish Trap and through Kaimanawa National Park.  Return to Turangi by either shuttle bus or raft.(being developed)

Day 2 –19 km loop track on existing tracks from Poutu Intake dam across Tree Trunk Gorge and back via the Pillars of Hercules (awaiting land owner approval)  Shuttle to the Poutu Intake hub at start and return via either shuttle or raft.

Day 3 –21 km down western side of Tongariro RIver via Rangipo Prison Farm and includes a visit to the National Tongariro Trout Centre. (awaiting land owner approval) Shuttle bus to start at Poutu Intake hub.

Day 4 –? m to link a walking and bike track from Turangi village to the Tongariro National Park –a world heritage area. (still being planned)

TRT route has outstanding natural river scenery and many views over the Tongariro River and national parks.  The precious remote upper river environment has never been accessible before.  The trail leads through virgin mature native bush,alongside the 20,000 acre Rangipo Prison farm,through access tracks beside pine plantations,across tributaries to the Tongariro RIver,with views towards Kaimanawa National Park to the east and Tongariro National Park with snow peaked Mts. Ruapehu,Ngauruhoe and Tongariro to the west.

All visitors –walkers,tourists on bikes,trampers,mountain bikers,bird watchers,environmentalists,recreational joggers –should expect to come across many anglers fly fishing the Tongariro RIver.  The TRT is suitable for tourists and families of all ages and fitness levels with easy contours,focused on the mighty Tongariro River,.  The management format follows the very successful Tongariro Alpine Crossing to provide a less intimidating track open all year round in all weathers.  Shuttle buses operating from Taupo and Turangi will provide daily transport to and from the start and finish each day,with the additional attraction of returning by raft on Days 1 &2 (raft trip also includes shuttle and refreshments and a hot swim at the finish at Tokaanu thermal hot pools).  The TRT is designed to rival the best other NZ Great Walks where tourists can tackle it as a multi day experience or can come back and tackle a different stage each year.

The TRT has been facilitated by the Advocates for the Tongariro River –an active community group based in Turangi concerned with the preservation and enhancement of the Tongariro River environment.

Contents

• A detailed map illustrating the route with features one can expect to find along the trail.
• A video by Waterline Productions (Jason Fry) prepared originally to accompany the submission and maps from the Advocates for the Tongariro River to the Ministry of Tourism Cycling Trail project funding.  Whilst it failed to attract government funding the project has now been refigured to make it a more viable proposal.
• A Powerpoint presentation mainly showing the route on Day 1.
• An Article by Pippa Brown about Turangi and the proposed trail.
• Other local walks information including Tongariro Alpine Crossing.

Acknowledgments

The TRT track extension and linking of the trail has only been made possible by the kind assistance and support of many other good people and community organisations including:

• Advocates for the Tongariro River
• Corrections Department (Glenn Brough &Graham Hardisty)
• Department of Conservation (Dave Lumley &Terry Slee)
• Destination Lake Taupo (Scott Pearson)
• Environment Waikato (Laurie Burdette)
• Genesis Energy (Jarrod Bowler)
• iConcept web designers (Mike Forret)
• Lake Taupo Forest Management (Geoff Thorp)
• Natural Resource Solutions (Richard Balm)
• New Zealand Forest Managers (Chas Hutton)
• Rafting New Zealand (Luke and Pianika Boddington)
• Taupo District Council. (Mayor Rick Cooper,Councillor Bernhard Chrustowski,Planning Manager John Ridd)
• Taupo MP (Louise Upston)
• Tongariro National Trout Centre
• Tongariro River Motel (Pip &Ross Baker)
• Turangi iCentre (Maryke Wison)
• Tuwharetoa Trust (Tuatea Smallman)
• Waterline Productions (Jason Fry)

Email enquiries to:
enquiries@tongarirorivertrail.co.nz