Waikato · Hiking

Waihohonu Track (Desert Road-Waihohonu)

3.5 mi
one way: 96 ft
climb: 3,603 ft
high point: Point to point
route

Waihohonu Track (Desert Road-Waihohonu) is a 3.5-mile point-to-point route in Waikato, New Zealand, inside Tongariro National Park. It runs between about 3,210 ft and 3,600 ft above sea level, with roughly 100 ft of climbing one way. It is a well-made walking path, fine for most hikers. It is mapped as a named hiking route, with the sections joined into one trail here. The nearest town is Waimarino, about 15 miles east of the trailhead. Peaks within about 3 miles include Tama. For camping, Whaihohonu campsite is within about 6 miles. Distances, elevations and the route shape here come from OpenStreetMap and the Copernicus 90 m elevation model. Trails, access rules and conditions change, so check locally before you go.

Nearby · Mount Ngāuruhoe Summit Route · Tongariro Alpine Crossing · Dome Summit Track

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Photo: Javier Sánchez Portero, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Mount Ngāuruhoe Summit Route

~9 min drive

An out-and-back trail, 1.0 miles each way (2.0 miles round trip) in Manawatū-Whanganui, New Zealand.

Photo: ogwen, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Tongariro Alpine Crossing

~9 min drive

A 12-mile point-to-point route in Waikato, New Zealand.

Dome Summit Track

~12 min drive

An out-and-back trail, 1.9 miles each way (3.8 miles round trip) in Manawatū-Whanganui, New Zealand.

Photo: Eusebius@Commons, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Mount Tongariro Summit Route

~10 min drive

An out-and-back trail, 0.9 miles each way (1.8 miles round trip) in Manawatū-Whanganui, New Zealand.

Lower Taranaki Falls Track

~11 min drive

A 2.0-mile point-to-point route in Manawatū-Whanganui, New Zealand.

Upper Tama Lakes Track

~8 min drive

An out-and-back trail, 2.6 miles each way (5.2 miles round trip) in Manawatū-Whanganui, New Zealand.

Photo: Jesselawtonnz, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Waipakihi Middle Range Route

~27 min drive

An out-and-back trail, 1.2 miles each way (2.4 miles round trip) in Waikato, New Zealand.

Ridge Track (unmarked)

~12 min drive

An out-and-back trail, 0.3 miles each way (0.6 miles round trip) in Manawatū-Whanganui, New Zealand.

Photo: Pseudopanax at en.wikipedia, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)

Tokaanu Geothermal Walk

~30 min drive

A 0.4-mile loop in Waikato, New Zealand.

Ridge Walk

~13 min drive

An out-and-back trail, 0.5 miles each way (0.9 miles round trip) in Manawatū-Whanganui, New Zealand.

Also worth it near here

Photo: sarang Sarang, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)

Old Waihohonu Hut

~1 min drive

Photo: Geoff McKay from Palmerston North, New Zealand, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Tama

~5 min drive

Photo: Krzysztof Golik, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Taranaki Falls

~11 min drive

Photo: W. Bulach, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Mount Ruapehu: Dome Summit Track (from Sky Waka Gondola gondola station)

~12 min drive

5 Minute Beach

~22 min drive

Conditions and forecast

Daily highs and lows, wind and the chance of precipitation at Waihohonu Track (Desert Road-Waihohonu) for the next 7 days, from the Open-Meteo model.