Getting there:

From the Village drive up Bruce Road towards the Sky Waka Gondola and snow fields for 2km and there is a parking area on your left opposite the start of the walk.

Maps:

Silica Rapids Walking Track

Walks in and around Tongariro National Park

Route/Trail notes:

Follow the track and boardwalks as it climbs through tussock-covered lava flows and sub-alpine scrub. A small clump of mountain beech and toatoa, seen a short distance up the mountain, forms the upper limit of beech trees in the area.

The track sharply descends a small valley and up the other side. A little further up the hill the stream bed widens and forms a series of shallow terraces coated in creamy white deposits – the famous Silica Rapids. When the stream emerges from lava cliffs at the head of the valley the water is rich in aluminium and silicate minerals. As the stream gathers speed and the water is aerated, the alumino-silicates are deposited on the stream bed where you might find freshwater crayfish. 

Return by the same route.

An alternative route up and back can be taken from the Village opposite the Information Centre or a circular route from the Information Centre and out to Bruce Road and back down the road to the Village.

Permits/Costs:

None.

Other References/Comments:

Disappointing was the fact that the Information Centre did not have a paper version of the numerous walks available in and around the township and I had to take a photo of a wall map in the Centre to see where I could go. Plan ahead by downloading the ‘walks’ link above.