Whakapapa Village is where the summer-time action is on Mt. Ruapehu - Visitor centre, Chateau Tongariro, golf, campground, backpackers, restaurants, and pubs. It sits about 1100m. Also, up the road 7km from Whakapapa is the 'Top 'O the Bruce' - the lodges of the Whakapapa ski fields (1640m) and the scenic tourist chairlifts that also help you on your tramps to the summit of Ruapehu. Whakapapa Village is adventure and eye-candy whether you are keen to tramp or simply want to sight-see from car, chateau, or chairlift. Don't leave the North Island without visiting Whakapapa!
Here's a rundown of Whakapapa's activities:
Visitor Centre: a must-see for its movies, maps, and interesting info.
Taranaki Falls: A super-popular moderate loop track to see a nice waterfall spitting off a rocky cliff (80 minutes for entire loop). Springtime is the most dramatic. Anti-clockwise is best for Ngauruhoe views.
Silica Rapids: A greate Summer track! Head up the rushing river to see the odd yellow silica deposits in the streambed. It's about 35 minutes to the Silica Rapids viewpoint, and it's possible to make a loop, but you have to walk back down the busy road - better to return the way you came and enjoy the reverse sights on the way back.
Tawhia Falls: These falls, just 2km up the Whakapapa road from SH47, are a photographer's delight. An easy quick 3-minute walk guides you to the bottom of this 8m cascade. 'Sweet as, bro', you may say glimpsing the emerald pool framed by smoothed boulders.
Ruapehu Crater Lake tramp: (800-100 minutes one-way after chairlifts, 3.5 hours total.) This difficult tramp starts at the Top O' the Bruce (1640m) and tops out near the Dome Shelter and the crater lake at 2672m. The funnest way to do this tramp is to pay $20 and take two chairlifts up the first 400m of the track to the Chalet at 2020m. (you can also just huff 'n puff under the lifts if you want to.)
From the Chalet the 'track' isn't marked - you just pick a course upward (the bottom ticket office has the only maps and info - be sure to ask questions down there.) Begin heading up under the higher lift. At its end, if snow doesn't block the way, the easiest route is to cut right, cross the gully and up the steep rocky pitch. Pathways become more obvious to the ridge. At the ridge go right to traverse to the shelter and its lake view. The lake is the primary goal, because Ruapehu's summit isn't one peak - it's a bunch of jagged ridges and with none shouting 'summit!'
Regardless, the views are stunners and you've climbed the island's highest peak.
Heading down, if you bring a pair of gloves, it's super fun to try to crouch and glissade down the snow gully - you'll see the tracks! Wooohoo you'll be down at the Chalet hoisting a beer in no time!
