Tongariro Activities

The main activities include hiking and mountain climbing in summer or skiing and snowboarding in the winter. There is also the possibility of hunting, fishing, mountain bike ride, horseback riding, rafting and sightseeing flights over the park. The most famous trail in the Tongariro National Park is the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, a one-day walk. The route is mostly a section of the Tongariro Northern Circuit, a two-to four-trail one of the nine Great Walks of New Zealand.

Another trail is the three-to six-Round the Mountain track to Ruapehu. There are also several other shorter itineraries, which are for day trips. With this network, three campsites, two shelters, nine open-access public and four private cabins and facilities in the park, a further expansion is not currently planned. There are also opportunities for mountain climbing. The winter sports season starts earlier than the end of June and lasts only until the beginning of November. The largest ski area (also called Whakapapa) is located on the western slopes of Ruapehu.

It has 15 lifts and a total area of 55 square kilometers. Directly at the ski area are 47 private lodges. The nearest accommodation is at the foot of the mountain at Whakapapa. Only slightly smaller is the Turoa ski area in the southwest. Although it has only nine lifts, but the total area is 50 square kilometers. Directly in the ski resort there is no accommodation, the closest town is Ohakune. The two ski areas have now merged, so that for example, the lift pass for both areas can be used.