Mount Ruapehu is an active stratovolcano at the southern end of the Taupo Volcanic Zone and sits within Tongariro National Park. Ruapehu hosts the only North Island's major ski resorts of Turoa and Whakapapa, on its southern and western faces, which are serviced by the ski towns of Ohakune and National Park. The area is jammed packed with outdoor activities such as tramping, rafting, kayaking, mountain biking and trout fishing, it also contains one of the best day walks in the world, the Tongariro Crossing! Taupo is only an hour or so drive away and sports its own share of amazing mountain biking tracks, kayak tours on the Waikato river, sky diving, jet boat tours, a bmx track, indoor climbing and the must visit Huka Falls and Maori Rock Carvings on Lake Taupo itself.
The climax of the Tongariro crossing. Photographer credit: Alys Barr.
