Image: Tasmen Walker | ©
Ferns and deep green leaves with a veil like waterfall landing in a small pool of water.
Maude Track to Mangakotukutuku Falls

Located in Egmont National Park in the Taranaki region

Maude Track leads from the end of Maude Road to the pretty Mangakotukutuku Falls.

Maude Track begins at the end of Maude Road. From the road end the track crosses farmland to the boundary of Egmont National Park. From here it climbs a ridge on the Pouakai Range through stands of regenerating and ancient forest, before turning left and dropping into the Mangakotukutuku stream valley. You’ll then arrive at the Mangakotukutuku Falls.

The track begins at the end of Maude Road, around twenty minutes’ drive from New Plymouth.

Drive south from New Plymouth on SH3 (signs towards Inglewood and Whanganui). Turn right onto Kent Road, then turn right onto Maude Road and follow it to the end. Car parking at the end of the road is limited.

Respect private farmland

This track passes through private farmland. Please leave gates as you find them and stay on the route.

Be ready for rain and cold

Taranaki is famous for its fast-changing and extreme weather. Check the forecast before you go and be prepared for rain and cold, even in summer.

Be ready for any weather by packing a waterproof jacket and plenty of warm layers. Wear sturdy, comfortable shoes (tramping boots are recommended).

What to pack for a day trip

The track is not well maintained and can be rough and slippery in places.

The majestic andesitic volcano Mount Taranaki or Egmont (2518 m) is the central point of the 34,170 ha Egmont National Park. Approximately 125,000 years old, it is the park’s most recent volcanic peak. Last erupting around 1755 AD the mountain is now considered dormant.

Local Māori believe Mounga (Mount) Taranaki once stood with the mountains of the central North Island. After a dispute over the maiden Pihanga, Taranaki fled his ancestral home, carving out the bed of the Whanganui River on his journey to the coast.

Egmont National Park became New Zealand’s second national park (after Tongariro) in 1900. Named Mt Egmont by Captain Cook, the traditional Māori name of Mount Taranaki is now more widely used.