The translator tower loop is a great walk on Mt. Taranaki. This half day walk is a fun way to explore the mountain, with forest, alpine tussock, and great views.
Mount Taranaki towers over everything when you are in the Taranaki region of the north island. No matter where you go the mountain is always up there, watching you. It is a big mountain, but you don’t truly get a feel for how big it is until you take a walk on its slopes. There are many nice walks on the mountain, such as Henry Peak, Pouakai Crossing, the summit or the Around the Mountain. This is my favorite half day walk that is perfect with kids or if you are short on time.
Translator Tower Loop On Mt. Taranaki Overview
Highlights – Goblin forest, great views of the mountain and out to the sea, the feeling of being high in the mountains.
Location – North Egmont Visitor Centre at Mt. Egmont National Park
Length of Walk – 3 to 3 and a half hour loop
Difficulty – Moderate
Translator Tower Loop On Mt. Taranaki Walk
This is a loop walk, meaning that it can be walked in either direction. I’ve walked this both directions and prefer to go in an anti-clockwise direction, which lets me descend the puffer as opposed to going straight up it.
I think of this walk as having three parts. The first is from the visitor centre straight up along the Holly Hut trail towards the junction to the translator tower. The second is from that junction going around the mountain, mostly above the bush in the tussock, towards the tower. The final section is from the tower down the puffer to the visitor centre.
The walk from the visitor centre goes straight up, following signs to the Holly Hut. From the visitor center to the junction you will be climbing for about an hour to an hour and a half. This is called the goblin forest because all of the trees are completely covered in epiphytes. On a misty or rainy day it can feel like everything around you is a big, dripping sponge.
There is a bench about half way up and then a nice view point just above that where the trail comes out of the bush to a narrow rocky saddle. At that point you get a great view of the mountain towering above you.
A bit farther and you hit the junction, where you’ll go left towards the translator tower. This is my favorite section as you are above the bush, traversing around the mountain on tussock covered slopes. The views are phenomenal here!
About 45 minutes from the juncion brings you to the private Tahurangi Lodge and translator tower. This area is a good spot to stop and have lunch on a bench or rocks. The track to the summit passes by here on its way up.
From the tower are the trail follows an old jeep road down, down, and down. The first stretch of this is so steep it has been cemented over and is called the puffer. Below the puffer you get back into the bush and follow some long switchbacks before arriving back at the visitor centre.
My Insider Tips
If you have the time, energy, and inclination you can take a side detour through the forest on the section between the puffer and visitor centre. There is one short nature trail that gives you a few minutes in the forest as opposed to along the road.
Or if you are feeing really good, you can head towards the Maketawa hut and then from there back to the visitor centre. That would add a good hour or two to your overall walk though.
There is a drop toilet/outhouse just above the translator tower station in case you need to take care of your business.