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Welcome to the Land of Fire and Ice: Tongariro National Park
Centrally located in North Island, Tongariro National Park serves as an adventure hub for those seeking a landscape shaped by fire, ice, and ancient legend. As New Zealand’s first National Park and a UNESCO Dual World Heritage area, it offers a rare convergence of geological wonder and deep Māori spiritual heritage. A Land of Giants…
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Ngā Puna a Tama & Pukekaikiore in Tongariro National Park
When the Tongariro National Park map was updated recently, Tony noticed a new marking north of the Upper Tama Lakes track: Ngā Puna a Tama / The Springs of Tama. These springs are named after the Māori Chieftain Tamatea, captain of the Tākitimu canoe, who explored the area six centuries ago. Our goal for the…
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Climbing Paretetaitonga: A Winter Mission on Mt Ruapehu
Paretetaitonga (2,751 metres) is widely recognized as the second-highest peak on Mt Ruapehu in Tongariro National Park. It sits just below Tahurangi (2,797m). While Point 2,757 further south, known informally as Te Ātaahua, is technically higher, it is not officially recognised as one of Ruapehu’s peaks. The name Paretetaitonga translates to ‘a wall or parapet, on…
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Happy Valley Ruapehu | A visit by a playful Sarahsaurus
The Sarahsaurus Tubing Descent In this early winter trip report, (perhaps my silliest) I went to Happy Valley at Mt Ruapehu where the skifield operators had made a sledding track with artificial snow for frustrated skiers to use to ride down on a tube while waiting for some real snow. Normally this snow tubing would…
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Do Tongariro waterfalls make you happier? I hike to Taranaki Falls to find out.
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Exploring the Best Waterfalls in Tongariro National Park
Tongariro National Park is a dramatic landscape. Best known for the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, the park has many short walks to spectacular waterfalls. Using the Wellington Tramping & Mountaineering Club (WTMC) Lodge as a base was perfect for exploring both the well-known waterfalls and a few secret hidden gems. Iconic & Accessible Falls 1. TARANAKI fALLS…
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Climbing Te Ātaahua: Reaching the “Shark’s Tooth” on Mt Ruapehu
Identifying the Forgotten Highpoint: Point 2757 While Paretetaitonga is widely recognized as the second-highest peak on Mt Ruapehu in Tongariro National Park, a higher point on the summit ridge often goes unnoticed. Located further south lies Point 2757, informally known as Te Ātaahua—meaning “the beauty.” To those looking up from the Turoa skifield, this sharp…
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Mt Ngāuruhoe from the South Side: The Path Less Trodden
Mt Ngāuruhoe stands as a striking, 2,291-meter volcanic icon within the heart of Tongariro National Park, but its popularity has come at a cost to both its physical slopes and its spiritual significance. While the heavily scared northern “trade route” is now strongly discouraged by DOC and local iwi, the southern flank offers a “path…
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NZ’s Sacred Summits: Why Many Climbers Stop Short
The summits of many New Zealand mountains are sacred to Māori. The proverb, ‘If I should bow my head let it be to a high mountain’, perfectly encapsulates this reverence. This guide outlines why many climbers now choose to stop just short of a physical summit to avoid standing on the head of a sacred…
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Hauhungatahi | The Gateway to Off-Track Wilderness in Tongariro National Park
New Zealand’s 14 National Parks offer world-class tracks, but “true wilderness” areas intentionally devoid of huts, signs, or bridges—remains a rare find for the North Island tramper. Most of our designated wilderness areas are buried deep in the Southern Alps, yet one of the most accessible sits right on the western slopes of Mt Ruapehu…
