Mount Tauhara facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mount Tauhara
Mount Tauhara seen from Lake Taupo
Highest point
Elevation	1,088 m (3,570 ft)
Geography
Mount Tauhara Location in North Island
Geology
Mountain type	Lava dome
Volcanic arc/belt	Taupo Volcanic Zone
Last eruption	Around 63,000 BCE
Climbing
Easiest route	Hike

Mount Tauhara is a sleeping volcano in New Zealand's North Island. It stands 1,088 meters (3,570 feet) tall. This mountain is a special type of volcano called a lava dome. This means it formed when thick, sticky lava slowly oozed out of the ground instead of exploding.

Mount Tauhara is located inside a huge volcanic crater called the Taupo caldera. This caldera is part of the larger Taupo Volcanic Zone. This zone is a long line of volcanoes that goes from White Island in the north all the way to Mount Ruapehu in the south. Mount Tauhara is about 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) east of the town of Taupo. It sits right next to the northeastern shore of Lake Taupo.

What is Mount Tauhara?

Mount Tauhara is a dormant volcano. This means it is not active right now, but it could erupt again in the future. It formed about 65,000 years ago. Unlike many volcanoes that explode, Mount Tauhara's lava was very thick. It slowly flowed out, building up the dome shape we see today.

Most of the rock in the Taupo volcano area is a type called rhyolite. But Mount Tauhara is mostly made of a different type of rock called dacite. Today, you won't see much evidence of its volcanic past. The mountain is covered in thick native forest.

Can You Hike Mount Tauhara?

Yes, there is a walking track to the top of Mount Tauhara. The path starts from Mountain Road. It is a steep climb, so it can be a bit challenging. The hike usually takes about an hour and a half to get to the top, and another hour and a half to come back down.

The track is not always perfectly clear. In some places, the plants might be a bit overgrown. But near the top, there's a fresh spring where you can get clean drinking water.

What Views Can You See from the Top?

If you hike on a clear day, the views from the summit are amazing! You can see across the entire Volcanic Plateau. This includes a full view of Lake Taupo to the southwest. It's a great reward for the climb!

The Legend of Mount Tauhara

The name "Tauhara" comes from the Māori words meaning "alone" or "isolated". There is a famous Māori legend about how Mount Tauhara came to be in its current spot.

How Did Mount Tauhara Get Here?

Long ago, several warrior mountains were in love with Pīhanga. Pīhanga is a beautiful mountain that stands near Turangi at the southern end of Lake Taupo. The mountains who loved Pīhanga were Taranaki, Pūtauaki, Tongariro, and Tauhara.

A big battle happened to win Pīhanga's heart. In the end, Tongariro was the winner. The other mountains were very sad about losing. They decided to leave Tongariro's area and travel as far away as they could in one night.

Taranaki traveled west towards the setting sun. Pūtauaki and Tauhara headed north towards the sunrise. Pūtauaki moved very fast and is now located near Whakatane. It is also known as Mount Edgecumbe.

But Tauhara was heartbroken and moved slowly. When the sun came up, he had only reached the northeastern shore of Lake Taupo. And that is where he stands today, looking sadly across the lake towards his lost love, Pīhanga.

Ngātoroirangi and Tauhara

Mount Tauhara is also important in another Māori story. Ngātoroirangi was a very important priest from the Te Arawa canoe. He was also an ancestor of the Tūwharetoa people. When he first came to this region looking for land for his followers, he climbed to the top of Tauhara.

Images for kids