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Enjoy Middle Earth away from the tourist-industrial complex.


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Map Key

6.4

Miles

10.3

KM

77%

Runnable

5,036' 1,535 m

High

4,023' 1,226 m

Low

1,755' 535 m

Up

1,756' 535 m

Down

10%

Avg Grade (6°)

40%

Max Grade (22°)

Dogs Unknown

Features Lake · River/Creek · Views · Waterfall

The Department of Conservation recommended season is November through April.

Overview

A short stretch of the 66.2 km Round the Mountain Track loop through a volcanic area with fabulous scenery, river crossings, cascades, waterfalls, and a lake.

Need to Know

This trail looks like it would be considerably more challenging in moderate to heavy rain. Check the forecast and pack prepared.

Description

The Lake Surprise run is an Ohakune area track of Tongariro National Park. If hiking, it's a roughly five hour roundtrip section of the 66.2 km Round the Mountain Track, which as of this writing is not included on Hiking Project but is described on the excellent New Zealand Department of Conservation website as linked. The name is a misnomer as the lake can be seen from early in the run on a clear day and the destination is only moderately interesting. But the journey is fantastic, a real trek through Middle Earth with few runners, even during the peak of the tourist season.

The trail is well marked with orange triangular markers as is typical for New Zealand trails but many parts of it are challenging and some stretches are less of a formal trail and more of a route to follow. Navigating the area near the base of the cascades involves some scrambling over rocks.

The trailhead is on Ohakune Mountain Rd. about 1.1 km before the base of the ski resort. There is a parking area and a trail sign labeled "Round the Mountain" but you can easily miss it because the trail immediately descends below the level of the road to the first river crossing. It then rises to just over 5000 feet affording the first view of Lake Surprise and excellent views of Mt. Ruapeha.

It the drops steeply into Mangaturuturu Valley beside a beautiful cascade flowing over smooth bedrock. After climbing out of the Mangaturuturu Valley, the trail continues over wooden planking crossing a seasonal wetlands before reaching the Mangaturuturu Hut (which can be booked for overnight use). Shortly beyond the hut, cross a large stream that can at times be managed without getting your boots wet but which may need to be traversed barefoot or with river shoes. Climb steadily up from the river valley to regain half the descent, continuing over more wooden planking. As you climb steeper trail sections, parts of which are a scramble up streambeds that may have minor flow, you'll arrive at Lake Surprise, a broad, shallow lake set amongst beech forest and tussock.

Contacts

Shared By:

Matthew Kidd

Trail Ratings

  5.0 from 1 vote

#1595

Overall
  5.0 from 1 vote
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Recommended Route Rankings

#26

in New Zealand

#1,595

Overall
25 Views Last Month
2,632 Since Feb 16, 2018
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Photos

Looking back at the cascades on the Lake Surprise trail
Feb 16, 2018 near Ohakune, NZ
The Lake Surprise trail crosses through the center of these cascades. Look closely to see the orange triangular marker on a wooden post
Feb 16, 2018 near Ohakune, NZ
The Lake Surprise trail scrambles up the rocks to the right of this waterfall
Feb 16, 2018 near Ohakune, NZ
Verdant and volcanic views from Lake Surprise
Feb 16, 2018 near Ohakune, NZ
Makotuku River Valley
Feb 16, 2018 near Ohakune, NZ
First river crossing, the Makotaku River
Feb 16, 2018 near Ohakune, NZ

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