Activities in the Ruapehu Area

There are many activities to keep you busy during your stay in the area.

Experience world-class walks and tramps (from 20 minutes to 5 days long) including the very popular Tongariro Alpine Crossing—"the best one-day walk in New Zealand".

You can ski or snowboard New Zealand's largest ski area, canoe or raft down the historic Whanganui River as well as the mighty Tongariro and Whakapapa , visit the Bridge to Nowhere, fish for trout in the world-famous Tongariro and the Whakapapa rivers, as well as the not so well-known Manganui-o-te-Ao, Waimarino, Ongarue and Retaruke rivers.

You can hunt deer in the neighbouring forest or mountain bike the many tracks that dissect the local area, bird watch the many endemic species, train spot on the neighbouring Raurimu Spiral and photograph to your heart’s content.

There are hot pools, golf courses, scenic flights, jet-boat trips, bungy jumps, waterfalls, volcanic thermal areas, caves and cafés — or you can just stay put and read a book!

Snow Sports

Mt Ruapehu has three ski fields, with the two commercial fields boasting 1800 hectares of lift-accessed terrain.

Whakapapa ,the largest ski-field in the country, is just 20 minutes from Wood Pigeon Lodge. It opens in mid-June and runs through to the end of October (weather permitting). Turoa ski field is a further 30 minutes away. Its wide open terrain makes it a favourite for snow boarders.

Both fields offer excellent facilities for beginners as well as the experienced.

Alpine Walks

There are many walks around the Volcanic Plateau and these range from 20 minutes to the 5- day Round the Mountain tramp.

By far the most popular is the Tongariro Alpine Crossing one-day walk.

(See separate section for this one.)

For more information on any of these please visit the Whakapapa Information Centre.

Mountain Biking

The big one is the 42 Traverse – 46 km of rutted forestry tracks through State Forest 42.

The Tongariro Forest. Thrill yourself with a drop in altitude of 570 metres.

Other tracks include:

Fisher’s Track — 21km of which 17 makes up the 500-metre altitude drop.

The Pines. This more sedate ride is a series of tracks through pine forest 3 kms south of National Park info@kiwimountainbikes.co.nz

Fishing

The many rivers in the area make for some good fishing with access to parts making up part of the challenge.

Good rainbow and brown trout can be found in the Whakapapa, Tongariro, Waimarino Manganui-o-te-Ao, Whanganui and Retaruke rivers. Lakes Taupo, Rotoaira and Otamangakau also sport trophy fish.

Kayaking and Canoeing

Raurimu is home base for one of the main Whanganui River users – Wades Landing Outdoors.

This company provides transport and canoe hire to and from start and finishing points on the historic river.

These range from 1- to 5-day trips in Canadian canoes and kayaks.

River Rafting

The Tongariro and Whakapapa rivers are two rivers in the area where you can enjoy the thrill of shooting the grades 2 and 3 rapids in inflatable rafts or kayaks.

Operators operate from Turangi and National Park.

Golf

The picturesque 18-hole golf course of Tarrangower at Taumarunui is the jewel in the golfer’s crown in this area.

This course features majestic redwoods lining the fairways. These trees were planted in the early 1920s and the undulating course gives the course a park-like appearance. It is said that no one who played Tarrangower ever regretted it!

The 9-hole course at The Chateau Tongariro is the highest course in New Zealand and arguably the one with the best views. Where else can you play golf with three active volcanoes and a world heritage park as your backdrop?

There is also the 18-hole Waimarino Golf Club at Ohakune. Find this at Golf Course Rd off the Ohakune / Raetihi road 4km from Ohakune.

Bird Watching

Native and introduced species abound in the area and even from the lodge gardens there are daily sightings of whiteheads, tui, bellbirds, falcons, harrier hawks and wood pigeons.

On walks from the lodge you can often see the endangered blue ducks and possibly also kaka (a native parrot). We continually trap and poison predators in the hope that these birds become even more prolific.

Jet Boating

This operates daily, and on demand, on the Whanganui River either to drop off hunters and hikers in the Whanganui National Park.

Or you can take a one-day kayak trip downstream, and return by jet boat at the end of your day in the wilderness.