Visitors Guide Life captured Photography Conrad Smith 1 LAND OF LEGEND – WHERE ADVENTURE AWAITS Home to three active volcanic mountains, and iconic and majestic landscapes, Tongariro National Park is a land of legend. New Zealand’s oldest national park, Tongariro National Park is a dual World Heritage area. This status recognises both the park’s Māori cultural and spiritual significance, and its unique volcanic features. The villages of National Park, Whakapapa, Raurimu and Erua lie at the heart of this volcanic wonderland. They offer an exceptional choice of accommodation, dining, activities and services to create a truly legendary experience. CREATE MEMORIES Hike across or ski on active volcanoes Soakinthespiritualsignificance& naturalsplendourofthreevolcanic peaksatonce Bike through ancient native forests Stay, eat, drink and shop with views ofmajesticmountains 2 3 Ski, board or play in the snow on an TOP 10 FABULOUS 1 active volcano - Mt Ruapehu. THINGS TO DO Hike the world-famous Tongariro Alpine Crossing in summer or go IN & AROUND 2 guided in winter. Take to the skies in a scenic flight and TONGARIRO witness the volcanoes of the Tongariro 3 National Park in all their glory. NATIONAL PARK Absorb the stark beauty and magical colours of a volcanic explosion 4 crater lake. Experience true isolation as you journey through deep canyons 5 and ancient forests along the Whanganui River. Feel the adrenaline rush of a quad bike adventure or paddle board the highest 6 lake in New Zealand. Push your limits on the Mountains to 7 Sea Cycle Trail and 42 Traverse. Traverse ancient lava flows and wander along glacier streams to the 8 Instagram-worthy Taranaki Falls - no filter required! Become one with the universe as you stargaze while staying overnight in a 9 mountain hut. Enjoy warm hospitality and hearty meals in family-friendly restaurants and cafes with three majestic 10 volcanoes as the backdrop. 4 5 WALKING & HIKING HIGHLIGHTS YOUR TONGARIRO Trek 19.4km across a volcanic alpine landscape of dramatic ADVENTURE AWAITS contrasts on the Tongariro Alpine Crossing See the Taranaki Falls tumble 20m over the edge of a 15,000-year-old lava flow Overnight in a backcountry hut on the Tongariro Northern Circuit - one of New Zealand’s Great Walks Capture views of three mighty volcanoes - Tongariro, Ngauruhoe & Raupehu Ancient lava flows, active From various short walks to the craters, steam vents, emerald- Tongariro Alpine Crossing - world- coloured lakes and magnificent renowned as the best one-day trek views combine to make a hike in New Zealand, through to iconic in Tongariro National Park an multi-day hikes like the Round unforgettable journey. the Mountain track or Tongariro Northern Circuit Great Walk, a The fourth oldest national park in hiking adventure awaits you. the world, Tongariro National Park is home to some of New Zealand’s With walks and hikes to suit all premier hikes. levels, anyone can come and escape in our unique and rugged Experience our world-famous outdoors. dramatic volcanic landscape - rich in colour, culture, glacial valleys and plant life. Wander across alpine meadows, MORE INFORMATION through ancient forests, along Shuttles & Transport page 38 mountain streams or over rugged FUN FACT Adrift Tongariro page 33 volcanic terrain and discover what At 1886m, Red Crater is the makes this Dual World Heritage highest point on the Tongariro Adventure Outdoors Tongariro page 31 Area so unique and mesmerising. Alpine Crossing. Tongariro Alpine Crossing tongarirocrossing.org.nz 6 7 SKIING & SNOWBOARDING HIGHLIGHTS Learn to ski or snowboard at Whakapapa’s world-class beginner facilities Savour unbeatable views from Knoll Ridge Café at 2020m Enjoy night skiing at Whakapapa on Fridays & Saturdays Ride New Zealand’s highest chairlift, the High Noon Express, at Tūroa Experience the thrill of skiing offers a whopping 722m of vertical or snowboarding on an active descent and New Zealand’s highest volcano! Mt Ruapehu hosts New chairlift - the 6-seater High Noon Zealand’s two largest ski areas - Express. Whakapapa & Tūroa. On a clear day you can enjoy With a huge range of lift-accessed unparalleled views from terrain within its 550-hectare Whakapapa across the central boundary, Whakapapa caters North Island and the Tongariro for first timers right through to Dual World Heritage National Park. advanced skiers out to challenge At 2020m, Whakapapa also has the their limits highest café in New Zealand - open all year round. Whakapapa is home to Happy Valley - New Zealand’s premier learning area with gentle slopes and covered carpet lifts. For the more advanced, there is plenty of epic terrain with steep chutes, wide basins, gullies and FUN FACT A $25 million luxury gondola - powder stashes all over the the largest & most technically mountain. advanced in NZ - is expected MORE INFORMATION Renowned for massive snow to open at Whakapapa in Whakapapa & Tūroa ski areas page 32 bases and truly epic terrain, Tūroa winter 2019. Ski Biz & Snowzone @ Alpine Centre page 36 8 9 CYCLING & MOUNTAIN BIKING HIGHLIGHTS Challenge your skill on the 42 Traverse - a must do for experienced riders Follow the old horse-drawn coach track between Horopito & Ohakune Enjoy panoramic views & a fun, Grade 2 downhill ride on Fishers Track Bike to the historic Bridge to Nowhere & return by jet boat! Stunning scenery with varied and track with awesome mountain diverse trails to suit everyone views before descending through from passionate mountain bikers native forest; and Marton Sash & to recreational cyclists make us a Door - a community-operated loop destination of choice for anyone track that follows a historic bush on two wheels! tramway. Whether you’re a speed junkie, Or take a local shuttle or tour to looking for downhill adventure or experience the history-steeped a casual cruise, there’s a biking trail Ohakune Old Coach Road trail, the to match. impressive Bridge to Nowhere and famous Timber Trail cycleway. Our villages provide easy access to several must-do trails - If four wheels are more your including the (in)famous 46km 42 thing, ride the hills of Raurimu Traverse, one of New Zealand’s on a quad-bike with Ruapehu best adventure rides, and the Adventure Rides. Mountains to Sea trail - a New MORE INFORMATION Zealand Cycleways Great Ride. FUN FACT Adrift Tongariro page 33 From National Park Village you can The Bridge to Nowhere was My Kiwi Adventure page 35 also hop on your bike and onto opened in 1936, but by 1944 the two great family-friendly rides: farming community it served was Ruapehu Adventure Rides page 37 Fishers Track - a fun downhill abandoned. Tongariro River Rafting Mountain Bike Hire & Tours page 36 10 11 WATER ACTIVITIES HIGHLIGHTS Kayak, row or jet boat to to Nowhere on the Whanganui River Enjoy a New Zealand’s highest guided stand-up paddleboard adventure Drift, raft or fish on the mighty Tongariro River Spot a rare whio in the clean, fast-flowing water of our rivers Floating is the best way to really the rare and critically endangered explore thousands of kilometres New Zealand native blue duck, of waterways in the neighbouring the whio, which lives only in clean, Tongariro and Whanganui National fast-flowing rivers. Parks. Enjoy New Zealand’s highest With an abundance of crystal- guided stand up paddle board clear rivers, streams, wetlands and adventure on Lake Otamangakau lakes, you’ll be inundated with a at 616 metres above sea level. Or choice of water-based activities try your luck trout fishing on the surrounded by stunning scenery Tongariro or Whakapapa Rivers. and pristine forest. Some of our most diverse and breath-taking wilderness can only be explored on water - whether it’s a quiet drift or a white knuckled turbulent experience over rapids. MORE INFORMATION A journey down the Tongariro and Adrift Whanganui River Guiding page 33 Whanganui Rivers combine the FUN FACT Adventure Outdoors page 31 natural beauty of unspoilt banks The population of the whio is with a trip back to the Jurassic age. under 3000 - making it more rare My Kiwi Adventure page 35 If you’re lucky, you may even spot than the kiwi. Tongariro River Rafting page 36 12 13 FAMILY FUN HIGHLIGHTS Enjoy the “ride of your life” at Ruapehu Adventure Rides Fly over active volcanoes Picnic in the world’s fourth oldest national park Explore the beauty of vivid landscapes by foot, bike or boat With new quests and adventures open spaces through some of New aroundeverycorner,yourfamily Zealand’s most stunning scenery, willsooncreatelastingfamily or taking a scenic flight over three memories staying in one of our active volcanoes. family-friendly villages. And at the end of the day, relive Spend quality time together - away your adventures over a great meal from the stresses of big city lives - in a family-friendly restaurant, as you explore the vast landscape before relaxing and recharging in a by bike or foot, climb the highest comfy and warm, family suite. peak or float down one of our With so much to do and mighty rivers. experience for kids and parents MORE INFORMATION From June to October, come and alike, it’s little wonder this is Adrift Whanganui River Guiding page 33 play in the snow - or get the kids the adventure playground for Mountain Air page 34 on skis or a snowboard, and have thousands of families each year. a break at New Zealand’s highest My Kiwi Adventure page 35 café - at 2000m. National Park Climbing Wall page 34 Challenge the kids to game of Ruapehu Adventure Rides page 37 mini-golf or test their courage on FUN FACT Schnapps Mini Golf page 35 an indoor climbing wall. For the About one million people Tongariro River Rafting more adventurous, nothing beats visit Tongariro National Park page 36 the thrill of quad biking on wide each year.