Mount Taranaki is New Zealand’s most perfectly formed volcano. It is around 120,000 years old. It last erupted in the 1700s and is the most climbed mountain in New Zealand.
We did not have to climb the mountain to enjoy its spectacular view. We drove to the Egmont National Park that encompases Mount Taranaki and enjoyed a lovely picnic with a fabulous view of the surrounding scenery and Mount Taranaki.
From our picnic bench, we could see the volcano, except the top of it as it was covered with clouds the whole time we were up there.
After the lovely picnic, we continued our scenic drive along the sublime New Zealand mountain landscape towards Tongariro National Park.
While driving, we bumped into a herd of cows crossing the road.
Thankfully, the cows just moved slowly by beside our car.
Accommodations
We stayed overnight at Howards Mountain Lodge at the Tongariro National Park. It had family rooms to accommodate our family of 5.
NEXT DAY: Tongariro National Park
The trip to Mount Taranaki was part of our 10-day New Zealand North Island road trip which includes a farm stay, a thermal wonderland and Maori show, Rotorua animals and sorbing adventures, sailing in Auckland – the city of sails.
