Mount Karioi is one of the most underrated hikes in the Waikato region. This 2.4 million-year-old volcano stands over 756 meters tall and is just 15 minutes from Raglan town centre. It's a must-do if you love hiking and beautiful views!

There are two different routes to the Mount Karioi summit:

1. Wairake Track - a shorter, easier hiking trail

2. Mount Karioi Track - steeper but more scenic

We opted for the Mount Karioi Track. What we were thinking when we decided to do it in the middle of summer with 26°C temperatures and 98% humidity, though, I don’t know! I won’t sugarcoat it; it was tough. When we hit the 50% incline, I questioned every life decision that had led me to that moment. But despite the pain, I’d do it again in a heartbeat, as the views from the top were absolutely worth it.

The Department of Conservation (DOC) estimates it’s 3.5 hours to the summit (one way), but my friends and I did it in 5 hours return. If you actually want to enjoy yourself, I’d recommend having a good level of fitness before attempting this hike.

Track overview

Difficulty: Hard

Length: 8.2km

Time: 5-7 hours return

The trail starts with a sharp ascent up a grassy slope before you hit the main ridge, where you’ll finally get some shade as you wind through native bush.

After about 15-20 minutes, you’ll reach a metal staircase to climb down some rocks and chains to help you up rocky sections. I thought this part of the hike was the steepest but also the most interesting! There’s a small lookout at the top, which has 360° views. You could stop here, but I highly recommend continuing to the summit (about another hour).

You're in for a treat if you visit on a good day. From the summit, you can see as far south as Taranaki Maunga, the Herangi Range and Pureora. There is also a good view of all the local harbours and Pirongia, Maungatautari and Te Aroha mountains.

Once you’ve soaked up the view (and caught your breath!), head back the way you came. It’s impossible to get lost, and the real reward from here is that you’ll have beautiful views of the coastline slap-bang in front of you.