© Krzysztof Golik · CC BY-SA 4.0 
© Kesara Rathnayake · CC BY-SA 2.0 Upper Ruapehu & Whakapapa Ski Area
Skyline Ridge Trail
Advanced 2.3 kmreturn 1.5–2.5 hr return from Knoll Ridge ↑ 236 m
Summit · Upper Ruapehu & Whakapapa Ski Area
Ruapehu Summit Plateau
Tahurangi 2,797 m
2,797 m AlpineSnowVolcanic
The North Island’s highest ground: glaciers, a summit plateau and a ring of peaks.
Ruapehu’s broad summit carries the North Island’s only glaciers and a plateau ringed by Tahurangi, Te Heuheu, Paretetaitonga and the other named peaks. Tahurangi is tapu to Ngāti Rangi and Ngāti Tūwharetoa, who ask climbers not to stand on the very top. Serious alpine terrain.
⚠ Mountaineering only.
❄ Snow and ice year-round above about 2,400 m.
Ruapehu Summit Plateau © Geoff McKay · CC BY 2.0 
© Krzysztof Golik · CC BY-SA 4.0 Tracks that reach Ruapehu Summit Plateau
© Krzysztof Golik · CC BY-SA 4.0 © Kesara Rathnayake · CC BY-SA 2.0 
© Michal Klajban · CC BY-SA 4.0 
© WolfmanSF · CC BY-SA 3.0 
Upper Ruapehu & Whakapapa Ski Area
Ruapehu Crater Lake (guided climb)
Expert 4–7 hr return from the top lifts
Also nearby
#2
Lava landscape· 1,700 m · Upper Ruapehu & Whakapapa Ski Area
Meads Wall
A towering wall of jagged lava beside the ski-field base, used for Emyn Muil in The Lord of the Rings.
Filming location Meads Wall
Ski area· 1,630 m · Upper Ruapehu & Whakapapa Ski Area
Top of Bruce Road / Iwikau Village
The highest road end in the North Island and the base of the Whakapapa ski area.
#3
Viewpoint· 2,020 m · Upper Ruapehu & Whakapapa Ski Area
Sky Waka & Knoll Ridge
A gondola ride from 1,630 m to 2,020 m over lava gullies to New Zealand’s highest café.