Ruapehu – Tongariro National Park
Drama & Landscapes
The area offers a wide range of activities including easy family walks, skiing or snowboarding on a volcano, the Tongariro Crossing (one of the best one-day hikes in the world), cycling through the forest or a journey down the Whanganui River, it’s brimming with opportunities to connect with the great outdoors.
Drama & Landscapes
Escape to Ruapehu and you will arrive in a living landscape that’s home to ancient rainforests, active volcanoes, sacred mountains, tranquil rivers and the dual World Heritage listed Tongariro National Park.
The area offers a wide range of activities including easy family walks, skiing or snowboarding on a volcano, the Tongariro Crossing (one of the best one-day hikes in the world), cycling through the forest or a journey down the Whanganui River, it’s brimming with opportunities to connect with the great outdoors.
Experience Ruapehu & Tongariro National Park
- Walk the Tongariro Crossing, a strenuous 17-kilometre hike past Mount Ngauruhoe and over Mount Tongariro. The lunar-like landscape features active volcanic areas, emerald crater lakes and panoramic views
- Visit Whakapapa on Mount Ruapehu, New Zealand’s biggest and busiest ski fields
- Drive the Ohakune Mountain Road – an extraordinarily scenic road that winds up through native bush to Turoa Ski Resort. One of the features of the road is the stratification of the vegetation
Here is a small selection of the accommodation available in the Ruapehu and Tongariro National Park area, but we have many alternative Hotels, Apartments, B&Bs, Motels and Lodges to suit all tastes and budgets.
River Birches Lodge, Turangi
This luxurious, boutique lodge is in Turangi on the southern edge of Lake Taupo. It is set within a peaceful garden beside the world-famous Tongariro River where you can try your hand at trout- fishing in one of New Zealand’s most beautiful rivers by day and enjoy the luxury lodge accommodation by night. There is a well-equipped fitness room, satellite TV, a DVD library, air-conditioning, spacious living areas with WiFi and broadband internet services.
The Duchess’s Room
Cosy, welcoming and relaxing, this Room enjoys the morning sunshine and superb vista of the garden areas.
The Major’s Room
Standing apart from the main house, the Major’s Room offers privacy and tranquillity within a lovely garden setting.
The Admirals’ Room
The Admiral’s Room offers a soothing cedar hot tub to soak in after a long day’s trout fishing or sightseeing. Gaze at the stars, sip a glass of wine and completely unwind. This room also has satellite TV, DVD, and a mini-bar stocked with fine New Zealand wines, champagne, chocolates and a micro-brewery beer selection.
The Cottage
This three-bedroom, self-catering cottage sleeps six guests as a single party. The Master bedroom has an en-suite and the two upstairs bedrooms share a large bathroom with bath and separate shower. It has a fully appointed kitchen, laundry and tackle room. Breakfast supplies are included in the rate. Meals can be catered in the Cottage or at the adjacent, River Birches Lodge.
Chateau Tongariro Hotel, Mount Ruapehu
This icon of New Zealand’s heritage is a stunning example of neo-Georgian design. The hotel was constructed in 1929 and still to this day provides visitors with timeless elegance, exceptional service, world-class accommodation and facilities. Sitting gracefully inside the dual Tongariro National Park World Heritage area, the hotel is surrounded by some of New Zealand’s best alpine treks, short walks and the sacred peaks of Mt Ruapehu, Mt Tongariro and Mt Ngauruhoe. Enjoy world-class dining in the award-winning Ruapehu Room Restaurant or visit the Pihanga Café or seasonal Tussock Bar and Restaurant for something more casual. Another favourite is the Chateau High Tea which you can enjoy whilst looking out over the National Park through the famed Mt Ngauruhoe picture window.
Heritage Room
Located in the original Chateau Tongariro Hotel, these rooms evoke the classic aura of days gone by. Enjoy views of native bush, the golf course or Tongariro National Park itself. Reflecting the history of the hotel from the “Roaring ’20s”, the decor and furnishings are nostalgic, tasteful and comfortable.
Tongariro Room
Relax in style in this separate wing of the hotel where most rooms have impressive views of native bush or the golf course.
Tongariro Spa Suite
The Tongariro Spa Suites are spread throughout the Tongariro Wing of the hotel. Here you can relish the luxury of spacious accommodation with a soothing spa bath and a separate walk-in shower.
Tongariro Suites @ The Rocks, Horopito
Located 10 minutes from the town of Ohakune, this property is regarded as the most luxury boutique accommodation in the Ruapehu District. It is set in two-and-a-half acres of native landscaped gardens and is central to all activities in the Tongariro National Park World Heritage area.
Located just a few hundred meters off the main highway, you will be surrounded by peace and quiet while admiring the views towards Mt Ruapehu from your suite. The four large luxury suites are furnished with European flair, and touches of bold colours.
All suites have generous living areas and full bathrooms, some with freestanding bathtubs. There is a large guest deck with stunning mountain views, a hot tub, sun loungers and a BBQ as well as a cosy guest lounge with a log fire, games and a wide selection of books.
Turoa Suite
This cosy, 35m2 suite has a modern, bright European-style décor and stunning full view of Mt Ruapehu. It has a King bed, bathroom with spacious walk-in shower, sitting area, dining-table and sheltered private deck with comfortable chairs and access to the landscaped native gardens.
Whakapapa Suite
This 42m2 Suite offers garden views across the pond to the top of Mt Ruapehu. The suite is open-plan with a generous sitting area, dining space, King bed in an alcove, en-suite with bath and walk-in shower, plus a sheltered private deck with comfortable chairs.
Ruapehu Suite
A luxurious 48m2 suite with views of Mt Ruapehu, a large, covered deck with comfortable chairs and access to the landscaped native gardens. It has a generous well-furnished sitting area, dining space and a spacious bedroom alcove with a King bed. The bathroom has a deep-soak bath and large walk-in shower.
Tongariro Suite
This is the most luxurious suite at 45m2 with full views of Mt Ruapehu, a large, covered deck with comfortable chairs and access to the landscaped native gardens. It has a gas fireplace, King bed positioned so you can see the sunrise over Mt Ruapehu, bathroom with deep-soak bath and large walk-in shower plus direct access to the hot tub.
Some of the experiences available in Ruapehu and Tongariro National Park are outlined below, but there are many, many more, so please ask for details of any other activity you would like to include during your stay.
Premium Tongariro Alpine Crossing Guided Walk, Tongariro National Park
Today’s 19-kilometre/11.8-mile Tongariro Alpine Crossing is one of New Zealand’s best one-day walks. The track leads up to the saddle between Mt. Ngauruhoe and Mt Tongariro and then over Mt Tongariro. The landscape has different coloured and shaped craters, scoured volcanic rocks, mountain springs and emerald lakes.
Summer offers a majestic landscape of recent resultant volcanic activity. There is a vast array of colours and textures created from Sulphur, Aluminium, Silica, and many other mineral deposits released from within the Earth’s Crust.
Total walking time is 7 hours, with approximately one hour of scheduled stops and photo opportunities. A medium to high level of fitness is required.
Duration: 9.5 hours
Guided Canoe Trip on the Whanganui River, Taumarunui
This is a unique way of spending time in another of New Zealand’s wonderful National Parks. The Whanganui National Park has rugged terrain covered in lush native forest with the Whanganui River at its heart.
The Whanganui River is rich with Maori and European history, the largest reminder of which is the famous ‘Bridge to Nowhere’. Just as the early explorers did, you will see and experience the NZ wilderness, wondering if you have taken a step back in time. Paddling downstream you will travel through bush-clad hills, see waterfalls, spectacular sheer gorges, farmland as well as some rapids en-route.
Duration: 7 hours
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