Rainbow Mountain Scenic Reserve, or Maunga Kākaramea Summit Track, is both an easy hiking spot and an advanced mountain biking track. It is also a tourist attraction in the Kaingaroa Forest. It takes about 1-1.5 hours of hike to the summit, through moderate inclinations and steaming ridges (geothermal activities).
There is also a 15-minute, 500 meters track at the beginning to the Crater Lake Walk. During my visit, it was temporarily closed for safety reasons caused by recent heavy weather events.
Rainbow Mountain Scenic Reserve Summit Track
The trailhead starts at Rainbow Mountain Scenic Reserve Car Park, plenty of space and there are picnic tables and a toilet there.
The start of the track is unshaded but it gets less exposed as you go.
As you hike, you would start noticing steam coming out of the distant thermal areas.
For mountain bikers, they share the same track with hikers going uphill to the summit, but cycle down via a grade 4, biking only track. There are also easier grade 2 biking tracks to Waiotapu and Kerosene Creek connecting to this path. Hikers use the same path up and down.
The track’s steepness is moderate in general, with some steeper sections, but it is a well-maintained track. DOC categorized it as an advanced tramping track but it actually felt like an easy track. Yes, we may get some heavy breathings at some steeper sections but nothing too advanced along the way.
About ¾ up before the summit, there is an interesting lookout point to the active geothermal location. Hot steam can be seen coming out from the colored ridges.
Rainbow Mountain Scenic Reserve Peak
Get a 360 degree view over the region on the top of Rainbow Mountain. To the Northeast you could see Mt Tarawera, which erupted violently in 1886, changing the landscape. Moreover, to the North are Lakes Tarawera, Rotomahana and Rerewhakaaitu. To the South are Mt Tauhara, Lake Taupō and the volcanic peaks of Tongariro National Park. The Urewera Ranges and Kaimanawa Forest are to the east, while to the West lies the Paeroa Range. Informational boards are placed on the summit in each direction to help you identify the places you could spot.
Bonus Trip: Kerosene Creek
After completing the Rainbow Mountain Summit Track, take a short 2.8km drive to Kerosene Creek for its natural hot springs and waterfall! The 2km gravel road along the bumpy and dusty Old Waiotapu Road is full of potholes so do drive slowly (but not a problem even for most small cars).
Have this guide helped you? Tag @meowtainpeople in your hiking stories & posts!
*Captain Planet passing by* Remember, please take care of our environment, and please don’t destroy the Nature. Leave no trash behind and take back only photos and memories (and also some trash if you can). Walk on the designated path and stay in the middle as much as you can, so that the exposed soil doesn’t spread/corrode further. BE ONE WITH NATURE *flies away*
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