Te Pōrere Upper Redoubt Viewing Tower
Te Pōrere Upper Redoubt Viewing Tower sits at 2,304 feet on the Volcanic Loop Highway, facing 60° with the land dropping 136 feet within 600 meters of the platform. The view spans a broad arc of peaks and water. Wairoa rises north-northeast at 2.8 miles, with Otukou to the east at 3.2 miles and Maungakatote to the north at 3.5 miles, the last reaching 2,828 feet. Lake Rotokura appears east-northeast at 4.7 miles. Farther out, Kakaramea stands northeast at 7.6 miles and 4,265 feet, Tihia east-northeast at 8.5 miles, Kuharua northeast at 9.5 miles, and Pihanga east at 9.8 miles and 4,350 feet. The tower's orientation points toward sunrise, offset 30 degrees from square, meaning early light arrives close to the facing direction. Sunrise times shift across the year, from 05:49 at the December solstice to 07:37 at the June solstice, with sunset ranging from 17:03 in June to 20:44 in December. The stop lies along the route between the Makatote Viaduct Viewpoint and Mount Ngauruhoe.
What you’re looking at
Named terrain inside the view from this overlook, nearest first.
- Wairoa2,096 ftnorth-northeast · 2.8 mi
- Otukou2,243 fteast · 3.2 mi
- Maungakatote2,828 ftnorth · 3.5 mi
- Lake Rotokura2,023 fteast-northeast · 4.7 mi
- Kakaramea4,265 ftnortheast · 7.6 mi
- Tihia3,822 fteast-northeast · 8.5 mi
- Kuharua3,704 ftnortheast · 9.5 mi
- Pihanga4,350 fteast · 9.8 mi
Light
This overlook faces sunrise — 30° off square to it.
| Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Golden hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | 07:21 | 19:32 | 18:57 |
| June solstice | 07:37 | 17:03 | 16:20 |
| September equinox | 06:09 | 18:14 | 17:39 |
| December solstice | 05:49 | 20:44 | 20:03 |
Local time (Pacific/Auckland). Computed for this exact position.
Where it is
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How high is Te Pōrere Upper Redoubt Viewing Tower?
Te Pōrere Upper Redoubt Viewing Tower sits at about 2,304 feet (702 m).
What can you see from Te Pōrere Upper Redoubt Viewing Tower?
From Te Pōrere Upper Redoubt Viewing Tower: Wairoa (NNE, 2.8 mi); Otukou (E, 3.2 mi); Maungakatote (N, 3.5 mi); Lake Rotokura (ENE, 4.7 mi).
Is Te Pōrere Upper Redoubt Viewing Tower better at sunrise or sunset?
Sunrise. The land falls away from Te Pōrere Upper Redoubt Viewing Tower toward the sunrise, so at sunset the light is behind you. Exact times shift through the year; the page shows the current window.
What is the next lookout after Te Pōrere Upper Redoubt Viewing Tower?
Mount Ngauruhoe is the next surfaced lookout along the same route after Te Pōrere Upper Redoubt Viewing Tower.
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Te Pōrere Upper Redoubt Viewing Tower — confirmed, rated, and photographed by people who actually pulled over. A local confirmation is what upgrades a lookout from Discovered to Verified. Zero hallucinations.
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