FULL ACCESS TO THE MOUNTAIN, ALL DAY - $299Use the selector below to buy passes for 2 adults (18+ yrs) and 2 youth (5-17 yrs) OR 2 adults (18+ yrs) and 1 youth (5-17 yrs).
By car, Happy Valley and Whakapapa ski field is accessed from Bruce Road, a 6km sealed road. If, due to weather conditions, chains are required please note there is no chain hire on the Bruce Road to Whakapapa, however, there are a number of shuttle services offering transport to the top of the Bruce Road every day.
Getting to the mountain is easy, with good quality sealed roads suitable for campervans complete with stunning scenery to enjoy along the way. Sometimes in winter chains are required, and in icy conditions you'll need to drive with extra care.
Cities near Taupo, New Zealand:Turangi, New Zealand. Tokoroa, New Zealand. Murupara, New Zealand. Rotorua, New Zealand.
The active volcanic mountains Ruapehu, Ngauruhoe, and Tongariro are located in the centre of the park.
| Tongariro National Park |
|---|
| Location | Ruapehu District, New Zealand |
| Nearest city | National Park, New Zealand |
| Coordinates | 39°17′27″S 175°33′44″ECoordinates: 39°17′27″S 175°33′44″E |
| Area | 795.96 km2 (307.32 sq mi) |
Our towns and villages
- Taupo town. The Taupo region's largest town has photo-ready mountain and lake vistas every way you turn, and plenty of things to do.
- Turangi.
- Mangakino.
- Kinloch.
- Kuratau.
- Omori & Pukawa.
- Tokaanu.
- Motuoapa.
Ruapehu is a place to feel at peace, and has a huge range of accommodations for all travellers. From cozy camping, to luxury lodges and chateaus, Ruapehu has just about every style of bed (and breakfast) you can imagine.
Everyone will need a set of thermals, waterproof pants, an insulated jacket, waterproof gloves, a neck warmer and goggles. (You can hire the jackets and pants.)
"Mt Ruapehu is an active volcano and has the potential to erupt with little or no warning when in a state of volcanic unrest. The Department of Conservation said the area within 2km of Te Wai Ä-moe/Crater Lake was closed due to the increased risk of eruption at Mt Ruapehu.
From a thick blanket of snow, to long lazy Summer days, Ruapehu is an all seasons destination, boasting activities and attractions to suit every climate. For outdoor pursuits that don't involve snow, Summer is the busy season, running from December to February.
Ruapehu is a stratovolcano (composite cone volcano) made of successive layers of andesite lava and ash deposits. The mountain is surrounded by a ring plain of volcanic material from lahars, landslides and ash falls. There are frequent lahars during eruptions or later due to collapse of the crater lake wall.
There are 3 huts with campsites nearby along the Tongariro Northern Circuit. These must be booked in advance during the Great Walks season. Note, camping is not allowed within 500 m on this track.
The track is a one way 19.4km hike that takes 7–8 hours (allow for a full day). It starts at MangatepÅpÅ Road end and ends at Ketetahi Road end. The best way to get to the start of the track is by shuttle. You can arrange transport through the TaupÅ i-SITE or Turangi i-SITE or see the list of operators below.
There is no direct connection from National Park to Taupō. However, you can take the shuttle to Turangi, take the walk to Turangi, then take the bus to Taupo. Alternatively, you can take a vehicle from National Park to Taupō via Turangi and Turangi in around 2h 19m.
