Mount Taranaki is an impressive dormant stratovolcano located in the Taranaki region of New Zealand's North Island. Known as Pukehaupapa (meaning "ice mountain") by local iwi, it stands at a stunning 2,518 metres (8,261 ft) tall and its peak is permanently covered in snow.

The Hangatahua River (otherwise known as Stoney River) is one of the larger rivers that carry water from Mount Taranaki out to the ocean.

You will need to head to the Blue Rata Reserve which lies within Taranaki National Park near the town of Okura. This is where the last of the native Blue Rata trees were spared in this area after logging efforts in the early 1900's. The road you need to take is Saunders Road which requires a bit of patience to drive along as its gravel and a little bumpy, but we were fine in our 2-wheel drive (although a 4wd would be a lot more comfortable). About 200m in you will see a small un-signposted pull over on your right and that is where you need to park the car and take the short walk through the bush which will bring you out onto a stretch sand and boulders.

From here you can find a beautiful composition with Mount Taranaki as your main subject and the flowing river as your foreground. This location works best at sunset, and take your zoom lens with you.