Whanganui Bay
On the western side of Lake Taupo is Whanganui Bay, home to what we heard was the best climbing in New Zealand. Like much of the land around Lake Taupo, the cliffs are on Maori tribal land. Luckily, the Whakarawa Trust, which owns and manages the area, allows climbing and camping on the land.
Whanganui Bay is pretty well hidden. There were no signs on the turnoff from the main road, and when we did find it, it led us down a very poorly maintained dirt track. We are so proud of the Cyclone for managing some quite tricky, steep road conditions and are convinced it can do anything!
We finally found the elusive bay and after a short bushwhack found the wall we sought (luckily we copied some pages of a guidebook in Palmerston North from a friend of Matti Natti, otherwise all would have surely been lost).
Even after all of that we agree this is the best climbing in New Zealand! The climbs are longer and have a fantastic view going up and from the top. Below are some pictures from the day (Sunday), including many from the top of a couple of the climbs.
Whanganui Bay is pretty well hidden. There were no signs on the turnoff from the main road, and when we did find it, it led us down a very poorly maintained dirt track. We are so proud of the Cyclone for managing some quite tricky, steep road conditions and are convinced it can do anything!
We finally found the elusive bay and after a short bushwhack found the wall we sought (luckily we copied some pages of a guidebook in Palmerston North from a friend of Matti Natti, otherwise all would have surely been lost).
Even after all of that we agree this is the best climbing in New Zealand! The climbs are longer and have a fantastic view going up and from the top. Below are some pictures from the day (Sunday), including many from the top of a couple of the climbs.
