Rainbow Mountain/Maungakakaramea Summit

location: Rainbow Mountain/Maungakakaramea on the road between Rotorua and Taupo
distance: approx 3 miles

description: our hike to the summit of Rainbow Mountain was one of the more random of our trip to New Zealand. we didn't linger in Rotorua in the morning (turns out the pervasive smell of sulfur can get to a person) and had plenty of time to explore on our way south to Taupo and beyond.

roadways in New Zealand were a wholly new experience for me in many ways. one of those ways: trailheads popped up all over the place, including right next to major throughways. if we hadn't know approximately when to start looking for the parking area for this trail, we would have blown right past and wouldn't have realized we missed it until we reached Taupo.

a few other cars dotted the lot, which looked more like a storage site for various gravel-like substances. as we pulled on our boots, a big truck pulled up next to us and an older gent hopped out - clearly looking like he tackled this particular hike regularly. in idle smalltalk, he confirmed that prediction, telling us that on a normal day at that time, the lot would be full of mountain bikers ready to head up the side of the mountain.

this trail turned out to be one of the joint hike-bike tracks we ascended and I cannot imagine making that climb on a mountain bike - clearly I am not cut out for such pursuits. the track is an "uphill" only loop for cyclists, designed presumably to keep bikers and hikers from crashing into one another on the steep and narrow hiking track (hikers aren't allowed on the downhill portion of the cycle course). and the path took off uphill pretty quickly, after a pleasant side trip to see a couple of thermal lakes.

the upside to uphill climbs are the views and Rainbow Mountain did not disappoint. on clear days you can see as far as Tongariro to the south; the day we hiked, while lovely, was not clear enough. in addition to the lakes, we saw several thermal vents; multi-colored rocks that give the mountain its name; lakes, hills and mountains in all directions; a trig beacon (used for geodetic surveys) and watchtower at the summit. the summit itself reminded me of Black Mountain, but only insofar as it also hosted a watchtower; southern California has never been this green.

the hike down was quite a bit less strenuous, but a hearty reminder that hiking in mountains involves all your muscles - some you didn't even know you had. if you ever find yourself driving from Taupo to Rotorua, I heartily recommend looking for the turn off to do the hike!