Things to Do in Mount Ruapehu

• Tongariro National Park
  This magnificent alpine area is a World Heritage Site and famous for its tussock plains, snow-capped volcanoes, coloured lakes and alpine treks. The park is a haven for walkers during summer, and for skiers during the winter. Ruapehu Alpine Lifts provide access to 1800 hectares of terrain.
• Whanganui National Park
  Home to the country's longest navigable river (329km), Whanganui offers superb opportunities for canoeing, kayaking, jetboating, hunting and hiking. The park is home to one of New Zealand's Great Walks – the stretch of river between Pipiriki and Taumarunui south.
• Walking
  The 17km-long Ohakune Mountain Road offers a fine selection of scenic walks through native forest, including walks to Waitonga Falls, Lake Surprise, Mangawhero Falls and the Mangawhero Forest Walk. The Ruapehu Visitor Centre has maps and information detailing popular walks. Within Tongariro National Park, the seven-hour Tongariro Alpine Crossing is the North Island’s most popular day trek. Ohakune Field Centre has maps and information for the southern side of the park.
• Ohakune Mountain Road
  All year round this scenic road provides a stunning drive up through the bushclad slopes of Mount Ruapehu, past mountain streams, the Mangawhero Falls, and out through the bushline to the skifield carpark.
• Mangawhero Falls
  These spectacular 23m-high falls can be reached via a track (10 minutes return) which starts 13km up Ohakune Mountain Road.
• Mountain biking
  During summer, the 17km-long Ruapehu Descent (Ohakune Mountain Road) is a popular ride, while east of Ohakune there are good forest trails around Rangataua. Mountain bikes can be hired in the town.
• Horse riding
  Ruapehu Homestead (east of the town on SH40) offers trail rides through the back-country bush.
• Scenic Flights
  Mountain Air offers a three mountain volcanic flight - a stunning experience of thermal and volcanic activity including many colourful mountain lakes.
• Adventure
  Other adventure activities you can do in the area include whitewater rafting, kayaking and four-wheel driving.