2 minute read
Ruapehu & National Park Village Must-Do's
Tongariro National Park
New Zealand’s first National Park has three iconic peaks – Mt Ruapehu, Mt Ngāuruhoe, and Mt Tongariro and many walks including one of New Zealand’s Great Walks, the Tongariro Northern Circuit.
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Tongariro Alpine Crossing
Pipped as New Zealand’s finest one-day walk, allow six to eight hours to cover the entire 19.4km.
Mt Ruapehu Skiing and Snowboarding
Come winter, ski,snowboard or snow play at Mt Ruapehu at three acclaimed ski areas – Tūroa, Whakapapa and Tukino.
Sky Waka
The country’s longest and most unique gondola ride travels 1.8km over volcanic landscape. Featuring floor to ceiling windows, and operating both winter and summer, the views are year-round sensational.
Fabulous Falls
From Whakapapa Village, take a two-hour walk through beech forest to Taranaki Falls. Nearby Tawhai Falls is an easy 20-minute return walk. From Ohakune, discover Tongariro National Park’s highest waterfalls: Waitonga Falls takes a good 90 minutes to reach.
High Tea at Chateau Tongariro
Lift your pinkie for miniature morsels of indulgence, available daily between 11am and 5pm. For added excitement, upgrade your pot of tea to a glass of bubbles.
Mountains to Sea Ngā Ara Tūhono Cycle Trail
Beginning at Mt Ruapehu and finishing in Whanganui 231km later, this trail can be divided into eight sections or ridden in full over four to six days.
Tongariro National Trout Centre
The Department of Conservation runs this centre, 4km south of Tūrangi. Walk through the museum and aquarium, feed the trout, see whio ducks and during school holidays, kids can learn to fish.
New Zealand’s Highest Mini-Golf
Kill some time at Schnapps Bar in National Park Village. The car park has been reinvented as a fun and locally themed, 18-hole mini-golf course with views that wow.
Indoor Rock Climbing
If the weather’s inclement, or you simply feel like testing your fitness and strength, the YHA National Park features an 8m-high indoor climbing hall with 55 different climbs.
Mountain Biking
Fishers Track is a 17km, Grade 2, mostly downhill trail submerged in beautiful scenery while while the Marton sash and Door Tramway Trail is a fun and family-friendly two-hour ride along the remains of a historic tramway line.
Park, Ride and Ski
Catch the easy shuttle right to the base of Whakapapa ski area using the National Park Village Park and Ride facility.
Waiouru National Army Museum
Stoic tanks guard the exterior. Indoors, 175 years of army history plays out. There are mini-uniforms for children’s dress-up and unique exhibits, including a tribute to the role of military animals. Based in Waiouru, 40-minutes south of Ruapehu.
Tongariro National Park © Getty Images
