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Mount Taranaki
Mount Taranaki
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Mount Taranaki, or Mount Egmont, is an active but quiescent
stratovolcano in the Taranaki region on the west coast of New
Zealand's North Island. Although the mountain is more commonly
referred to as Taranaki, it has two official names under the
alternative names policy of the New Zealand Geographic Board.
The 2,518 metres (8,261 ft) mountain is one of the most symmetrical
volcanic cones in the world. There is a secondary cone, Fanthams
Peak (Māori: Panitahi), 1,966 metres (6,450 ft), on the south side.
Because of its resemblance to Mount Fuji, Taranaki provided the
backdrop for the movie The Last Samurai.
The Stratford Mountain Club operates the Manganui skifield on the
eastern slope. Equipment access to the skifield is by flying fox
across the Manganui Gorge. |
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The Taranaki Alpine Club maintains Tahurangi Lodge on the north
slope of the mountain, just next to the television tower. The lodge
is frequently used as the base for public climbs to the summit held
in the summer months. The various climbing and tramping clubs
organize these public events and provide informal guides.
For the average person, Taranaki would be considered a moderate
mountain to climb. It takes a person with good fitness level a day
to make the up-and-back climb. Weather on the mountain can change
rapidly, which has caught inexperienced trampers and climbers
unawares.
Getting
There
This tourist attraction
is well serviced by public transport including taxis, buses and
shuttle. There are three roads leading part-way up the mountain. The
highest is to East Egmont plateau, with a viewing platform and
parking facilities for the skifield. It lies at the transition
between subalpine scrub and alpine herbfields.
There are park visitor centres at North Egmont and at Dawson Falls
on the southeast side.
The eastern side from Stratford leads to the Stratford Mountain
House, and the ski field.
There is no road access on the western side. However, a road winds
for 10 km through native bush over the saddle between Pouakai and
Kaitake. Near the top of this road is the renowned Pukeiti Trust
rhododendron garden.
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