By popular vote the walk into the Tupapakurua Falls on Sunday in the Erua Forest behind National Park Village was a great success for all 20 participants who came from the surrounding townships and from further afield such as Hamilton and Taupo.

This was the third year the walk has been held as part of the Tongariro/Taupo DoC summer programme only this time the trip included descending right to the base of the impressive 50 metre falls.  With fine weather and a dry track it was easy walking which allowed plenty of time to identify trees, fungi & ferns along the way as well as some accounts of local history and a number of stories of the actual track building work. 

The trip was lead by members of the National Park Village Progressive Association ( Murray Wilson, Sue Slegers, Hamish Sinclair) and ably assisted by Sarah Thompson from DoC.

The track restoration work has been going on steadily for seven years making for many route and grade improvements to the original track cut thirty five years ago bringing it up to the standard it is today. Much support has come from the individuals and businesses in the local community as well as from Trust Waikato, Tongariro Natural History Society and DoC to make the project a success.

The track is proving popular with visitors as alternative to some mountain trails when the upper altitudes can be exposed to severe weather and for others just wanting to experience the luxuriant New Zealand forest with abundant ferns, lichens and ancient trees.