Mt Ruapehu & Tongariro
Summer or Winter the Ruapehu region has a myriad of adventure activities on offer for thrill-seekers of all levels.
Home to the oldest national park in New Zealand, Tongariro National Park, three live volcanoes, spectacular scenery as seen in The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, the region boasts some of the best skiing and walking tracks down under.
Completed by about 70,000 hikers every summer one of the region's most celebrated activities is the 'Tongariro Alpine Crossing'. This walk traverses the otherworldly landscape between Ngauruhoe and Tongariro. Steaming craters, snowy peaks, old lava flows and thermal lakes make the walk an unforgettable experience. The region also offers many shorter walks to waterfalls and fascinating volcanic features - including the crater of Ruapehu.
Two of the largest ski fields in New Zealand, Whakapapa and Turoa, are found on the slopes of Mount Ruapehu and from around late June to late spring skiers and snowboarders alike can be seen enjoying the excellent conditions this active volcano provides.
The Tongariro River which winds its way through the region produces some fantastic white water rafting with its succession of grade 3 rapids, while the streams and rivers around the Tongariro National Park provide excellent rainbow trout fishing experiences.
For more information please visit Mt Ruapehu's website or National Park's website.
