Fantham's Peak

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Fantham's Peak
Elevation	1,962 m (6,437 ft)
Location	Taranaki, North Island, New Zealand
Nearest Town/s	New Plymouth
Coordinates	39°18′37.72″S 174°3′58.50″E / <span class="geo-dec geo" title="Maps, aerial photos, and other data for Expression error: Unrecognised punctuation character "[" Expression error: Unrecognised punctuation character "["">Expression error: Unrecognised punctuation character "[", Expression error: Unrecognised punctuation character "["
Topographic map	NZMS 260 P20 Egmont, Egmont National Park / Mt Taranaki Map 273-09
Type	Volcanic
Alternative Names	Panitahi

Syme Hut Tramp
Duration	1-2 days (return)
Distance	7.6 km (4.7 mi) (return)
Start/End Points	Dawson Falls Visitor Centre
Difficulty	Hard
Track Conditions	Path, track, steps, scoria
Season	December to April
Sights	Views of Taranaki, and to Ruapehu and Ngauruhoe; Syme Hut.
Hazards	Alpine weather, snow & ice in winter, mist

For help on the terms above, please click the buttons.

In 1887, 19 year old Fanny Fantham became the first European woman to climb the peak previously named Panitahi. Although a mountaineering trip in winter, you can emulate Fanny's achievement on a summer day walk. Fantham's Peak is a parasitic volcanic cone on the side of Mt Taranaki, and with Syme Hut located near the summit, it can be a magnificent place to spend the night.

Contents 1 Getting There 2 Our Recommended Route 2.1 WARNING 3 Topographic Map and Height Profile 4 Google Map 5 Weather Forecast 6 Weather and Webcam Links 7 External Links 8 References 9 Comments & News on Fantham's Peak 9.1 Latest Comments and News:

Getting There

By Car

To get to the Dawson Falls visitor centre from Stratford, turn on to Opunake Rd, then after about 15km, turn right into Manaia Road. Dawson Falls Visitor Centre and carpark is at the end of Manaia Road.

Public Transport

There is no public bus service, but Eastern-taranaki.co.nz offers a shuttle service.

Our Recommended Route

The walk from Dawson Falls to Fantham's Peak is about a 6-7 hour return journey, so can easily be done in a day. However, with Syme Hut (10 bunks) situated at the summit, you may wish to consider spending the night here, soaking up the atmospheric views at dusk and dawn.

The tramp starts from the Dawson Falls Visitor Centre, where you can see numerous displays on the areas history, and check local conditions with the DOC staff who are there Wednesday to Sunday. There are also plenty of other short walks in the area you may wish to explore. Accomodation is available here at Konini Lodge (PDF) or Dawson Falls Lodge.

From the Visitor Centre, follow the signs to the Fantham's Peak summit. You will first pass through through dense forest, and then past the small Hooker shelter, which is surrounded by sub-alpine scrub. The trek itself includes hundreds of steps, and eventually you will emerge on to tussock, just past the track which leads to Kapuni Lodge. After another steep staircase, the route intersects with the High Level Round the Mountain circuit. You will then head up steep scoria slopes marked by snow poles, and on to Fantham's Peak.

WARNING

Over 60 people have died on the slopes on Mt Taranaki, so it is not a mountain to be taken lightly. With it's location to the west of the North Island, Taranaki's weather often changes dramatically and quickly. A clear day in New Plymouth does not indicate a clear day on the mountain, and up to date information should always be obtained from the Dawson Falls information centre, or the Met Service. Even then, you need to have clothing suitable for alpine weather, and if you're on the mountain outside of summer, you would need experience using an ice axe and crampons. White out conditions are also common, so navigational equipment and skills are recommended. While Mt Taranaki is currently dormant (last eruption 1755), it is still a volcano, and is capable of changing it's volcanic status in the future. You can check out GNS's latest volcanic alert bulletins here.

Topographic Map and Height Profile

Fanthams Peak Topo Map

Fanthams Peak 2D Height Profile

• You can also view Fantham's Peak in Google Earth

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This map and 2D height profile are for use as an indicative guide only. They have been created using the TUMONZ mapping software and contains data sourced from Land Information New Zealand. PeakBagging.co.nz, Land Information New Zealand, and TUMONZ give no warranty in relation to the data (including accuracy, reliability, completeness or suitability) and accepts no liability (including, without limitation, liability in negligence) for any loss, damage or costs relating to any use of the data. Crown Copyright Reserved.

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Google Map

This map is intended as a guide only, and is not a replacement for an official topographic map.

Weather Forecast

This forecast is provided as indicative only - please always check local conditions and forecasts before setting out.

Weather and Webcam Links

• Met Service Local
• Met Service Mountain Forecast
• Met Service Weather Warnings
• Current Conditions in New Plymouth
• GNS Mt Taranaki webcam

External Links

• DOC Tramps around Dawson Falls
• DOC Stratford Area Walks
• DOC Egmont National Park pages
• GNS Mt Taranaki volcano page

References

101 Great Tramps in New Zealand, Mark Pickering and Rodney Smith, Reed Publishing NZ Ltd. (2004), pages 75-76

North Island Weekend Tramps, Shaun Barnett, Craig Potton Publishing (2002), pages 53-55

Comments & News on Fantham's Peak

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