Upper Tama Lake

Upper Tama Lake occupies explosion craters that were active about 10,000 years ago, like the other nearby craters on Tama Saddle. It is confined by steep cliffs made up of lava flows that are between 180,000 and 250,000 years old. The older lavas were likely erupted as domes and the younger lavas were probably fed from vents to the north, now buried by the much younger Mt Ngauruhoe. The lava flows were already heavily eroded by the time the explosive eruptions occurred in the saddle area. Similarly for the area around Lower Tama Lake, the area surrounding Upper Tama is blanketed by a variety of volcanic (pyroclastic) rocks, ranging in size from large andesite blocks to ash, ejected explosively out of the craters as they erupted. More recent eruptions mainly from Ngauruhoe, Ruapehu and Taupo have mantled the area with younger ash deposits.

The Upper Tama lake is in an impressive setting with Ngauruhoe close by to the north. From the high point near the Upper Lake you will get great views of the Lower Tama Lake and its related craters, and will be able to see the glacially eroded valleys and 180,000 to 250,000 year old lava flows around the Upper Lake. Keep a look out for pumice from the Taupo eruption at various places along the track. It is possible to continue eastwards to follow the ridge down the east side of Lower Tama Lake from the view point. This makes for a nice 'round trip' back to the main Tama Saddle track.