Article Trip to Whakapapa

The starting point for this trip can be, for example, the town of Turangi, located at a major road junction south of the Great Lake Taupo. After a few kilometers drive you will have a nice view of the lake.

Another nice view is a stop at Lake Rotoaira with a picturesque island in the middle. Tongariro Volcanic Park is already visible on the horizon

The road slowly rises along the western border of the national park. After a while, you will pass a turnoff to the Mangatepopo car park, from where the famous one-day „Tongariro Alpine Crossing“ tour starts: https://www.gigaplaces.com/…ne-crossing/. However, we continue a little further to the turnoff on road No. 48 leading to the village of Whakapapa. A beautiful view of Mount Doom from the Lord of the Ring awaits us, otherwise it is called Ngauruhoe.

The Chateau Tongariro Hotel is in a very picturesque location, behind the massif of Mount Ruepahu.

From the hotel you will find another 500 meters to the gloomy ski village of Whakapapa (1,602 m above sea level), which is also the starting point for the volcano Ruapehu (2,797 m above sea level).

You can also take a view of the ridge directly above the resort from here. One way is about 20 minutes.

From the ridge you can see the beautiful volcanic wasteland of Tongariro National Park.

From the ridge is a nice panoramic view of the entire ski resort. Well, I don't know if it's a bit depressing to have a cottage built right here :-)

For good visibility from here you can see the 135 km distant volcano Taranaki (Egmont) in the very west of the North Island).

If you want to enjoy a little life and greenery after the depressed Mordor, take a short walk to the pretty nice Tawhai falls, to which the trail leads directly from the main road