This is one of those classic New Zealand hikes, mostly because of that picture perfect reflection of Mount Taranaki in the tarn. When the conditions are just right, no wind, clear skies, and a bit of luck, you get that unreal mirror image. Unfortunately, when I went, the weather wasn’t really on my side, but honestly, the views were still incredible, even without the reflection. To give yourself the best shot at seeing it in all its glory, check the forecast beforehand. You’ll want low wind speeds and minimal cloud cover, and sometimes, a little patience while you wait for things to clear up.

The hike itself follows the Mangorei Track, which is pretty straightforward. It’s basically all boardwalk, so no worrying about mud, and it’s mostly shaded thanks to the tree cover. That being said, it’s also basically all stairs, like, a lot of stairs. It’s not super difficult, but it is a steady uphill climb.

The whole track is about 12.7 km return with 800 meters of elevation gain, and you should plan for around 4–5 hours to complete it. Also, just a heads-up the tarn itself is actually pretty small. In photos, it looks like this massive lake, but in reality, it’s just a shallow tarn that happens to have the best natural framing ever.

Even though I didn’t get that perfect reflection shot, I really liked this walk. If you’re lucky enough to hit it at sunrise or sunset on a still day, you’ll see why it’s such an iconic spot.