“TRM promote three other walks in the area with far more options and variety offering a 1 hour river loop walk with views over Lake Taupo, a 2 hour walk around a hidden lake, plus a 2 hour loop alpine walk to a waterfall on Mt. Ruapehu as a far better option”.

 

TRM received several inquiries about these options – in particular one from Trev who was complaining about the weather in Auckland and Taranaki and was checking out the Tongariro for his annual fishing safari (although he usually bikes the trail so he can carry his catch back – see photo on right during his last visit) – so we will explain one walking track each day.

 

Today we explain the  first alternative option – an easy one hour stroll from TRM in a loop trail around the Tongariro River.  This can be done before breakfast but we were only allowed out after laundry duties were over – about 3pm on Tuesday.  As expected this was a very busy day.  The images tell the story. 

The preferred route is usually anti-clockwise – from TRM, cross Taupahi Road to head down Te Aho Street towards the river – a quiet cul de sac of holiday homes to link with the Tongariro River Trail and head to the right up river. 

 

The track is shared with bikers and dogs and kids and swimmers and anglers and tourists and locals on their daily constitutional walk.  On Tuesday the usual coveys of quail and rabbits were missing – spooked by the numbers of tourists.

 

The track takes walkers along the back of many residential properties and local parks adjoining the river.  The surrounding natural scenery is as good as any track I know.  It is one of the main reasons why many people live and retire here.

 

Yesterday we met Alia Robinson from Palmerston North returning from her swim.

 Then I took photos of an angler practising casting in the Breakfast Pool with the swing bridge in the background. 

 

He was Cheang Kok Yun with his son James from Singapore.  His family told me he had read about fly fishing for trout in the Tongariro River about thirty years ago and had waited all this time for his first visit.  I hope they persevered as the trout were there.

 

A few rest seats are positioned for watching the anglers wading in the river – fly fishing only.  It is very entertaining and therapeutic to watch and admire their skills at casting and drifting their dainty flies.

 Bikers on the Tongariro River Trail come in all sizes. 

 

The biking and walking track crosses over the swing bridge to the TRB (True Right Bank looking downriver) and just follows the anglers access track.  Or – if you have time – you could turn right and walk/bike another five km up to cross Red Hut Bridge and return on the TLB via the Trout Centre.

 

Had we continued further north over the bridge – back down river – the track passes along through several winding tunnels of attractive bush mixed with mature native trees with several anglers side-tracks access to the pools, then eventually opens out during a gentle climb to the ridge where wide views are available over the Tongariro River and beyond Turangi town and further north-west to Lake Taupo.  Then a zig-zag path leads down hill back to the main road bridge over SH 1 and heads south again to TRM.

The images below were all taken yesterday on this route during our usual exercise – walkies with Pumpkin – to illustrate what to expect.  On our leisurely 75 minute walk at peak time between 3 & 4 pm, we counted about 40-50 walkers, four anglers, about ten bikes, ten dogs, many huge trout, ducks and rabbits. 

 Meanwhile to keep you entertained during the holidays is another inmate interview:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97G0dVzqHOU