Henrys Peak is a high point on the famous Pouakai Crossing in Egmont National Park. This peak makes a great long day hike in the Taranaki area of New Zealand’s North Island.
Taranaki is an incredible area on the North Island of New Zealand. The highlight of the area, other than the fantastic beaches, has to be the stratovolcano Mt. Taranaki. There are heaps of fun trails and walks to be enjoyed around the mountain within Egmont National Park. My partner and I just had a great day hike to Henrys Peak.
Henry’s Peak Trail Highlights & Logistics
On a nice day this trail has incredible views of Mt. Taranaki, the famous Pouakai tarns, long views over the coast from Okato to Mokau, and the sparkling Tasman Sea.
This is a moderate hike since there is a lot of climbing and descending. The description I have here is for an out and back hike, but it can be done as a one way trip with Mangorei road and North Egmont as trailheads. This would make the trail longer and you’d need two cars.
It takes about 2 1/2 to 3 hours one way or 5 to 6 hours round trip. It is about 15 km round trip.
Top of Henrys Peak is 1,224 meters. Mangorei road trailhead its about 450 meters.
The trailhead is located at the end of Mangorei Road. Previously cars just parked along the road, but a new carpark is being constructed. This area will get busy because this is the end of the Pouakai crossing and a good access point to different trails on the mountain.
Day Hike or Walk To Henry’s Peak
This is a long day hike that is not suitable for younger kids. Older kids can definitely do the hike, but it may take a bit longer.
Since we had never done this trail before we chose to do it without kids while they were in school. We managed to drop them off to start school, drive to the trail, hike, and return home right when school finished for the day.
The trail starts and ends at the Mangorei road end carpark. From the carpark the trail begins the long climb up to Pouakai hut. The beginning of the trail is not too steep and passes through some very nice lowland forest.
After about 30 minutes, the trail becomes steeper. There are long stretches where you are in the forest walking up a long series of stairs. DOC has done a great job creating a trail that is a long wooden boardwalk and stairs so you don’t need to worry too much about mud here.
Eventually, after about an hour and a half you arrive at Pouakai hut. This is a nice stopping point as you can sit down, have a snack, and drink some water.
A short 5 minute walk from the hut brings you to this absolutely amazing view of Mt. Taranaki as you reach a plateau. During this short climb you get above the bush and enter the tussock zone, so you have great views all around you.
It feels as if the mountain in all its glory is just enormous when you first glimpse it as you gain the little plateau above Pouakai hut. The stretch of the trail from Mangorei road end to this point is the same trail you take to do the Ahukawakawa crossing. Another cool day hike would be to veer right from here and head to Pouakai summit (alas that is for us to do another day).
I love this spot and always like lulling around the boulders to soak in some of the great views of Mt. Taranaki before moving on. To the left it’s about 20 easy minutes more to the Pouakai Tarns as you slowly descend.
The trail continues on from the tarns for about another 40 minutes to Henry’s Peak. Henry’s Peak is the second peak along the ridge that you can see the obvious trail ascending. It’s not that far away, but the trail drops down to the bottom of that peak before climbing again.
That last climb up is steep, with 5 ladders and is brutal after hiking all the way up from Mangorei road. It’s totally worth it as the views from the top are superb. You get 360 degrees views from Henry’s Peak on a clear day!
That’s it, enjoy the views, have a snack, lather on some sunblock as the sun is intense up there. Then get ready for the return trip to your car.