Last updated November 2026
The Holly Hut Track leads from the North Taranaki Visitor Centre at North Egmont across the face of Taranaki Maunga to Holly Hut, for a day or overnight tramp. The route climbs the Veronica Loop Track, then sidles past the towering Dieffenbach Cliffs and across the Boomerang Slip before descending to the hut.
DOC grades it Advanced and allows 3–4 hours one way. The upper part is very exposed, and DOC does not recommend it in winter without an ice axe and crampons.
North Egmont is about 24 km from New Plymouth, and when we checked on 18 October 2026, DOC said parking there was limited until December 2026 while the new visitor centre is built.
Track Facts
Tracks can close at short notice for slips, storm damage or maintenance. Check DOC's current alerts for Holly Hut Track on the day you walk.
Current alerts on DOC
Practical Information
- Start
- North Taranaki Visitor Centre, end of Egmont Road (North Egmont)
- Distance from the city
- about 24 km from New Plymouth
- Walking time
- 3–4 hr one way
- Track length
- About 6.6 km one way
- Grade
- Advanced
- Dogs
- No Dogs
- Hut
- Holly Hut (DOC hut)
- Managed by
- Department of Conservation
- Status
- Open when checked on 18 October 2026. Check DOC before you go.
- Track markers
- On marked bush tracks, DOC and most councils use orange triangles for the walking route. Triangles or tape in other colours, usually pink or blue, mark pest-control lines and traps. They can lead off the track, so don’t follow them.
About Holly Hut Track
The Holly Hut Track starts on the Veronica Loop Track, following the boardwalk past the Camphouse and the Ambury Monument before climbing a long series of steps. At the junction, take the track signposted to Holly Hut.
Ten minutes past the junction is a lookout, which DOC marks as the start of the alpine section. Check the weather and your gear here. If you are not well equipped, or the cloud is so thick you cannot see the maunga, DOC recommends returning down the Veronica Loop Track and trying another day.
Beyond the lookout the track climbs, then sidles along the mountainside past the towering lava columns of the Dieffenbach Cliffs, and crosses the Boomerang Slip. It then descends to the Kōkōwai Track junction and gradually on to the Ahukawakawa Track junction, where a left turn leads 5 minutes to Holly Hut.
Holly Hut also makes a base for the side trip to Te Rere-o-Tahurangi Falls and is a stop on the longer Pouākai Crossing and Around the Mountain Circuit.
Track Conditions and Safety
DOC says the track is steep and narrow in sections with big drop-offs. There are several rockfall zones, including the active Boomerang Slip: follow the signs and cross without stopping, one person at a time.
The track crosses several dry stream beds, two of them just before Holly Hut, and the Minarapa Stream just before the hut is unbridged. These can rise quickly in heavy rain. If you have any doubt about crossing, wait for the water to drop, which DOC notes often happens quickly.
The track is far more challenging in winter. DOC says you need an ice axe, crampons, snow gaiters and goggles, and the skills to use them.
If there is snow on the mountain, check the NZ Avalanche Advisory and only go if you have avalanche gear and skills. Check DOC before you go, tell someone your plans, and use Plan My Walk to prepare.
There are several springs along the track that are significant to iwi, hapū and whānau. Please treat them with respect and do not wash in them or walk through them.
When we checked on 18 October 2026, DOC had an alert for the Te Papa-Kura-o-Taranaki area: the Stony River Route from the Te Rere-o-Tahurangi Falls junction (near Holly Hut) through to Kahui Hut was closed until further notice because of erosion and the risk of rockfall, so trampers could not complete the full Around the Mountain Circuit.
Access to Te Rere-o-Tahurangi Falls and Holly Hut from the Puniho Road end was also closed. The alert did not close the Holly Hut Track from North Egmont.
Getting There and Parking
The track starts from the North Taranaki Visitor Centre at the end of Egmont Road, North Egmont, reached from State Highway 3 at Egmont Village.
When we checked on 18 October 2026, DOC said car parking at the North Egmont road end was limited until December 2026 due to construction of the new visitor centre, and recommended carpooling or a shuttle. At that time the visitor centre remained open in a temporary building in the upper car park.
Where to Learn More
Department of Conservation: Holly Hut Track: track information, alerts and status. Track information: Crown Copyright: Department of Conservation Te Papa Atawhai 2026. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
Department of Conservation: North Egmont area: the visitor centre, parking notices and other tracks that start at North Egmont.
Plan My Walk: plan your trip, check the weather and track alerts, and share your plans with someone you trust.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does the Holly Hut Track take?
DOC allows 3–4 hours one way from the North Taranaki Visitor Centre to Holly Hut.
How hard is the Holly Hut Track?
It is graded Advanced. It is steep and narrow in places with big drop-offs, rockfall zones and an exposed alpine section.
Can I stay overnight?
Yes. DOC describes the track as a day or overnight tramp to Holly Hut, a DOC hut. Check the DOC page for hut facilities and any booking requirements before you go.
Where does the track start?
At the North Taranaki Visitor Centre at the end of Egmont Road. It begins on the Veronica Loop Track.
Can I walk it in winter?
Only with alpine gear and skills. DOC says winter conditions require an ice axe, crampons, snow gaiters and goggles, plus avalanche gear if there is avalanche risk.
Are dogs allowed?
No. DOC’s rule for this track is No Dogs.
Is the track open?
It was open when we checked on 18 October 2026, with no alerts on the track’s own DOC page. DOC did have a place alert about the Stony River Route closure beyond Holly Hut (see Track Conditions and Safety). Check the DOC page for current alerts and the North Egmont parking notice before you go.
Spotted something incorrect on this page? Let us know.
Sources and data notes 1
- Track Facts: Track facts and line: Crown Copyright, Department of Conservation Te Papa Atawhai 2026, CC BY 4.0. Elevation: LINZ (LiDAR), CC BY 4.0.