North Egmont to Holly Hut (Mt Taranaki)

The tramp from North Egmont to Holly hut is part of the Poukai circuit or the round the mountain track. It's about a 3 hour walk to the hut. The first part is definitely the hardest as you walk up the lower slopes of the mountain past Tahurangi Trig going from 950m above sea level to about 1350m. The hill is moderately steep with a lot of steps. At about the point were you join up with the around the the mountain track you stop climbing and begin to travel along below some very impressive bluffs.

The crossing of Boomerang Slip is the only tricky part of the the track to holly hut. It's nothing too extreme but it can definitely be a bit unnerving. You actually cross just below the part in the photo.

Shortly after passing the turn off for the Kokowai Track the track begins to gradually descend towards the hut. Even on the gentle slopes such as those shown in the photo there are more steps obviously designed to help support the easily eroded soils rather than to help people with their footing.

Holly hut itself is very nice. It even has solar powered lighting for a bit of extra luxury.

Bells falls are a very worthwhile side trip near Holly Hut. The bluffs around the falls make for a stunning backdrop. The trip takes about 30-40 minutes each way a there is a small hill in there but nothing too difficult.

On the return trip you can take the Kokowai Track for a change of scenery. This track is less frequently used and is quite a bit more rugged. As you descend the ridge after leaving the holly hut track there is a very noticable and gradual change from alphine foliage with small shrubs and grasses to the more typical New Zealand bush with larger trees. As you get further down the ridge line becomes very narrow as the track passed by some impressive bluffs overlooking the Kokowai Stream. Just before the ridge flattens out the track gets quick steep and there are even a few small ladders in this section.Note that depending which topo map you have there may be a track on it that goes off to the right at the base of the ridge. Apparently there used to be a three wire bridge across the river here but this track is no longer used so you just continue on until you reach the well marked turn off to the suspension bridge.