Egmont National Park: the shining mountain
13 November 2025
Seen from above, the Egmont National Park on the western coast of the North Island forms almost a perfect circle, surrounding the beautiful Mount Taranaki.
The Goblin Forest: lush and fantastical forest
When you enter the Goblin Forest, you’ll be so bewildered by the beauty you’d certainly be forgiven for thinking you heard Gollum addressing you personally.
The series of stunning tracks and trails around the sides of the wonderfully symmetrical Mount Taranaki, includes the Kāmahi Loop track, which can be tackled with little more than stout boots and a sense of adventure. A mere 15km from Stratford, the walk, depending on your proclivities and meanderings, can also take in Dawsons Falls and Wilkies Pool.
But really, the feature here is the very peculiar permutations of the native kāmahi tree. In the lush rainforest, kāmahi have often begun life by simply growing on the stumps and logs of other trees. No recent occurrence, some of these felled trees fell victim to the last ash shower eruptions from Mount Taranaki in 1855.
The trees twist up, ferns provide an eerie gossamer layer to the whole thing and hanging moss and other greenery add to the captivating experience. Eerie for some, enchanting to most, using your legs and imagination, it’s an experience not to be missed.
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