Weather
Weather in Ruapehu can be highly unpredictable and snow can fall anytime of the year. Daily and monthly temperatures can vary greatly. At Whakapapa Village frosts can occur all year round. However, temperatures average 13°C with a maximum temperature of 25°C and a mid-winter minimum of -10°C.
Most months have high levels of rainfall so if you really want to do something that is outdoors (e.g. the Tongariro Crossing), it could be useful to stay another day or two just in case the weather turns bad.
Often snow falls as early as March or as late as November, and sometimes even during the summer months. During summer, snow is sometimes still present in the craters of Ngauruhoe and Tongariro, and there are permanent glaciers and snowfields high on Ruapehu.
Activities
Visit in summer or visit in winter, Ruapehu has lots to do. Hit the slopes for some family fun or ride the Sky Waka to the highest cafe for lunch in winter or come in summer to enjoy some stunning walks on the mount or bring the bike, there’s plenty of good tracks around.
Posts
About | Taranaki Falls 2-hour return track, 6km. The 20-metre Taranaki Falls is a fascinating walk with a range of landforms and mountain views. It’s quite an easy track without too many inclines. Beautiful views of Mount Ruapehu and Mount Ngauruhoe can be seen. Walk past the beautiful Wairere Stream, past Cascade Falls to end up at the spectacular Taranaki…
About | Tawhai Falls (Gollum’s Pool) 0.5km | 20 minutes return The beautiful 13-metre high Tawhai Falls is located in the Tongariro National Park. It’s an easy stroll, you’ll reach a lookout to view the top of the waterfall then continue down the track to reach the bottom. If the falls look familiar it’s because they were the filming location…
About | Ohakune Carrot Adventure Park Come and check out the different vegetable characters at the funky, cool and colourful Ohakune Carrot Adventure Park, the biggest one being hard to miss. The famous 7.5-metre carrot stands as a tribute to Ohakune’s biggest crop, being erected in 1984 and as quickly become NZ’s most hugged “Big Things’. Carrots were first grown…
About | Whakapapa – Mount Ruapehu Whakapapa is New Zealand’s largest ski area in the winter and open for you to explore for short walks during summer. You can ride the gondola, called the Sky Waka, all the way up to New Zealand’s highest restaurant and cafe, 2,020 metres above sea level. Here, you can enjoy floor to ceiling windows…
About | Tokaanu Thermal Pools The Tokaanu Thermal Pools is a small thermal pool complex close to the bottom of Lake Taupo and Ruapehu. Perfect for warming up those muscles after a day on the mount, you’ll be sure to sleep well. There are two pools, one large public pool heated to 36°C- 38°C and a small kids pool at…
About | Mangawhero Falls 300m | 5 minutes return The Mangawhero Falls track is just a short walk to a picturesque 28-metre waterfall and well worth the stop on your way down from the mount. Being so accessible, the Mangawhero Falls is one of the most popular waterfalls to visit in the Tongariro National Park. During winter, you might be…
About | Turoa Ski Field Turoa is located on the southwestern side of Mount Ruapehu and is New Zealand’s longest vertical drop at 722m. The High Noon Express’ 6 seater chairlift takes you to the highest lifted point in New Zealand, the views are amazing! Turoa has two beginners areas, plenty of gullies, wide trials and drops. Kids will enjoy…
There’s lots to keep you active in Ruapehu and encourage you to get outdoors to seek its rewards. Ruapehu is a fantastic family travel destination all year round, for its snow activities in the colder months and for it’s walking and biking tracks during the warmer months. There are also some small museums and indoor rock climbing for a cold…