Access

The start of the track is signposted 250 metres above the visitor centre on the opposite side of the road.

Track

The track is relatively even, but climbs progressively as it follows the Waikare Stream upstream.

Take a left after 10 minutes at the junction with the Whakapapanui Track. The tussock studded country is dotted with alpine bogs (crossed by boardwalks). Ruapehu and Ngauruhoe are both reminders of how this land was formed.

Once following the Waikare Stream, you are mostly in mountain beech forest with lush fern filled banks. Punaruku falls are a prelude to the creamy white series of cascades higher up the watershed. Large flat rocks make natural platforms for just being. Let all your senses take this in. Oxygenated air from disturbance by the gravity energised water, soothing sounds from gravity energised water and easy-on-the-eye white water fro gravity energised water.

It’s a bit more a climb up out of the Waikare watershed and into the Tawhainui Stream, which is crossed by a bridge before exiting onto Bruce Road 2.5 km above the village. It takes around 30 minutes walking down the road, but watch for distracted drivers.

Geology

As groundwater percolates through the rock to deeper depths, it encounters hot magma. It becomes superheated and then rises through cracks and fissures in the country rock, absorbing minerals like silicate and aluminium. As the gassy water bubbles up through a spring at the head of the lava flow, the dissolved minerals are precipitated on the streamsides. This is a geological melting pot. Planet construction - live!