© ShakyIsles · CC BY-SA 4.0 
© ShakyIsles · CC BY-SA 4.0 
Ohakune & Tūroa
Waitonga Falls Track
Easy 4.0 kmreturn 1 hr 20 min return ↑ 316 m
Ohakune & Tūroa
Lake Surprise via Mangaturuturu
Advanced Full day
A wild backcountry day: a cascade down a lava flow, the Mangaturuturu hut and valley, and a hidden alpine lake.
9.0 kmreturn
4–5 hr returnwalking time
↑ 796 mclimb
1,533 mhigh point
Lake Surprise via Mangaturuturu © ShakyIsles · CC BY-SA 4.0 
© Geoff McKay · CC BY 2.0 
© ShakyIsles · CC BY-SA 4.0 Elevation profile
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DOC distance 9 km; the mapped line measures 12.7 km.
What you’ll see
Lava flow cascadeAlpine valleyTarnWestern Ruapehu glaciers
The walk
The Round the Mountain Track drops steeply beside the Cascade Falls down the Mangaturuturu lava flow to the hut, then crosses the river (unbridged) and climbs through tussock and lava to Lake Surprise. Remote and beautiful; not for wet weather or winter without experience.
Start. Ohakune Mountain Road, 13 km above Ohakune (Round the Mountain Track sign)
Snow & season
Alpine in winter
Snow and ice on the descent in winter; the route is impassable for most people from June to September.
Best season: November to April
- Unbridged river crossings
- Steep rock slabs, slippery when wet
More photos
© Sarang · Public domain Combine with
© ShakyIsles · CC BY-SA 4.0 © ShakyIsles · CC BY-SA 4.0 
Ohakune & Tūroa
Mangawhero Falls Walk
Easiest 200 mreturn 10 min return ↑ 4 m
© ShakyIsles · CC BY-SA 4.0 
Ohakune & Tūroa
Mangawhero Forest Walk
Easy 3.4 kmloop 1 hr 15 min loop ↑ 230 m