We consider Tama Lakes a hidden gem of a hike. Located in Tongariro National Park on the north island of Aotearoa, New Zealand. It’s a stunning hike that isn’t talked about much and doesn’t have too many people on it. This is because everyone is far more interested in the Tongariro Alpine crossing. This is THE day hike in New Zealand. HOWEVER, it’s also super busy and doesn’t really fall into The Road Less Written motto.
Don’t get us wrong, we aren’t saying not to do it (we’ll definitely do it before we leave the country) we are just saying Tama Lakes rivals it and is less busy, doesn’t require a shuttle to get back to the start and offers incredible views that not every second person has on their Instagram. If you can’t do the Tongariro crossing for logistical reasons, then do Tama lakes and you will get a similar terrain and views with fewer people.
These lakes are truly incredible to behold and the towering presence of Mt Ngauruhoe and Mt Ruapehu are with you for the entire walk. So even if you do the alpine crossing we’d still recommend doing Tama lakes whilst you are in the area.
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Details
Starting Point: Whakapapa Village parking lot. Just below Chateau Tongariro.
Distance: AllTrails – 17.4km. We did 19.3km.
Duration: 5 – 7 hours. Took us 6.5 hours, including stops.
Difficulty: Moderate. Very easy well maintained path to lower lake. Very steep and loose track to the upper lake.
When: We did this at the end of March before it got too cold.
Local iwi: Ngāti Tuwharetoa with the hapū (sub-tribe) of Ngāti Hikairo ki Tongariro as the guardians of the national park specifically.
Additional Information: Recommend taking the upper track of the walk first before it gets too hot in the afternoon.
Trail Map
Getting to the Starting Point of Tama Lakes
The start of the walk is near the end of Ngauruhoe Pl. You can’t park here though, so you’ll have to park along Bruce road below the Chateau Tongariro Hotel. Walk up the road to Ngauruhoe Pl and you will see a big sign for the start of the Taranaki Falls Track. Before you head off, we recommend checking in at the information centre on the main road to ensure that the conditions are safe on the mountain. The weather changes really quickly here, so even though it may look fine when you head off, that doesn’t mean it will stay that way.
The Trail
The start of the trail recommends going along the Taranaki Falls lower track, however, we opted to take the upper track and save the lower track for the return walk. We made this decision purely because we knew the upper track isn’t shaded and not overly pleasant if it gets windy later in the day. The views of Mt Ngauruhoe are stunning on this part of the track, so if it’s not covered in cloud when you start, then definitely take the upper track.
Mountain Views
Views of Mt Ruapehu and Mt Ngauruhoe will accompany you all day. It really is an effort to not stop and take pictures of them both at different turns and elevations in the hike. Soak it all up and stop where you can to just be in nature here.
You’ll soon come to Wairere Stream if you’ve taken the upper track. The bridge crossing here is pretty cool. If you need to use the bathroom, there is a long drop just up a small trail from here, so make use of it! The next one on the track is much closer to the lakes. You’ll walk among the tussock grasslands from here along ridges and dry ravines to get to Tama Saddle and the lower lake.
Lower Lake
The view over the lower lake is just incredible! Stop here and have some snacks or your lunch. We sat on the rocks near the edge of the cliff and just took it all in. The lake with Mt Ruapehu to the right is truly breathtaking. There is a lot of room here for people to spread out, which means even if there are a few other groups on the track, you won’t feel crowded or even really notice them. Everyone just seems to be in awe of the view and it really is so peaceful here. You might not believe us, but the views are only going to get better as you make your way to the upper lake!
Upper Lake
The views from the top of the ridge are just insane, but they do need to be earned. The hike to view Upper Tama lake is not easy. In fact, it could be described as more of a scramble to get to the top of the ridge. You’ll climb up scree on a steep ridge to get to what looks like the top before realising there is another hard climb to views over both upper and lower Tama lake.
We had a lot of wind up here too, which made the sheer drops on either side of us just that bit more scary. It was definitely worth the climb up, though. You have incredible views of the lakes and both mountains from here. Sit down and take it all in before you make the climb back down. Don’t be afraid to scoot a little on your bum if the height and slippery scree are getting to you. That’s exactly what Tiff did in a couple of the really steep points!
Taranaki Falls
Retrace your steps back to Wairere stream. Here we split off down to the right to descend to the bottom of the Taranaki Falls. A 20m high waterfall that plunges down an old lava flow. There are a few spots here where you can stop for a snack and enjoy watching the waterfall. From here you follow the river along under lush bush, crossing the river twice at a bridge and through a narrow gorge before popping out of the forest to finish the walk. Follow the signs for the Tongariro Chateau to wind up a little closer to the carpark and avoid walking along the road for the final bit of the walk.
Extra Tips/Info for the Tama Lakes Day Hike
We absolutely loved this hike. Seeing a little snow on the trail and dusting the mountains was a bonus. We timed it well with a beautiful day at the end of March, meaning we had to rug up a little, but it wasn’t freezing cold. Tiff especially likes this kind of weather for hiking, as it means less sunscreen! Pack plenty of snacks for this one, as there are so many suitable spots to stop and take in the scenery for a short while. Most of the walk follows the Tongariro northern circuit, which is a multi day 43km hike and one of New Zealand’s great walks. So you know that this one is well worth it!
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