Mount / Mt Ruapehu

Mount / Mt Ruapehu

Crater Lake walk

17 Rankers Reviews

14 Face-to-Face

Maps

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Mt Ruapehu Crater Lake
Meads Wall

Information

Mount / Mt Ruapehu

Walk to the summit of an active volcano

In summer, ride the chairlift and gain access to a spectacular Mt Ruapehu walk up to the crater lake.

The Mt Ruapehu Crater Lake has got to be one of the best one day hikes you can do! You will view the largest Crater Lake on New Zealand’s active Mt Ruapehu volcano. Remember you are on a mountain and weather can change very fast so even in the middle of summer be prepared to get a bit chilly. There is no track up here and if the weather closes in you will want to have and be able to use a map and compass... There are local guided options available to make this adventure more accessible and safer.

If weather conditions deteriorate during the day the lifts may close earlier than planned. If this happens, and you miss your lift ride down, you will have to make your own way back to the base area on foot. Follow the orange and blue markers starting from the top of the Waterfall Express Chairlift.

Details

Feature Value Info

Organisation

Ruapehu Alpine Lifts

Commercial organisation

Location

North IslandRuapehuTongariro / National Park Village

Categories

  • Activity__walking_and_trekkingWalking

Directions

To Coordinates

Coordinates

-39.2615999471839

175.567152404785

Latitude
-39.2615999471839
Longitude
175.567152404785

Reviews

    • Took a walk up to the crater.
    • We went there during winter.
    • Nice track, not too hard, not too easy.
    • Brilliant walk with stunning views.
    • Came as a school group.
    Rating Count Percentage
    10/10 5
    29%
    9/10 8
    47%
    8/10 2
    12%
    7/10 1
    6%
    6/10 1
    6%
    5/10 0
    0%
    4/10 0
    0%
    3/10 0
    0%
    2/10 0
    0%
    1/10 0
    0%
  • 4.5/5

    Came as a school group.

    My group (14-year-old guys) made it up to the top in record time. I would highly recommend walking poles as your feet slip a lot in the snow. We had to turn back at the top though because of a visibility drop.

    Reviewed over 5 years ago and experienced in November 2017

    Sam's avatar

    Sam

    Customer

  • 3.0/5

    Suitable for mountain goats or humans with climbing experience.

    We walked / climbed all the way up and it took us almost 10 hours in total. A lot of climbing over lose rocks at very steep angles. Didn't always feel safe. Once we're up it was nice but considering the climb we had to take it wasn't really worth it

    Reviewed over 6 years ago

    Matthias Kroth's avatar

    Matthias Kroth

    Customer

  • 4.5/5

    Once again very worth the climb, stunning view at the top.

    You can race the clouds and you can reach the snow and have a ski ride. Walk it for free up and then see if you can get a free ride down in the lift.

    Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in March 2016

    GERMANY
    Maximilian Seitz's avatar

    Maximilian Seitz

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    We went there during winter.

    One and a half hour uphill walk if you take the last chairlift. Best views and snow!!

    Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in February 2016

    GERMANY
    Lili Souris's avatar

    Lili Souris

    Customer

  • 4.5/5

    I have climbed Ruapehu, there was snow on the top.

    Beautiful! Nice track!

    Reviewed almost 9 years ago

    FRANCE
    Etienne Douse's avatar

    Etienne Douse

    Customer

  • 4.5/5

    When we reached the mountain we understood that the lifts dod not work for the moment so we decided to walk up the mountain.

    That was amazing and good markings.

    Reviewed over 10 years ago and experienced in March 2014

    SWEDEN
    Cecilia Anderson's avatar

    Cecilia Anderson

    Customer

  • 4.5/5

    Climbed the mountain and was rewarded with a beautiful view over the surrounding lands.

    Reviewed over 10 years ago and experienced in March 2014

    SWEDEN
    Mattias's avatar

    Mattias

    Customer

  • 4.5/5

    Brilliant walk with stunning views.

    Reviewed about 10 years ago and experienced in February 2014

    NEW ZEALAND
    GN100's avatar

    GN100

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    Incredible views from crater lake and surrounding summits.

    Reviewed over 10 years ago and experienced in January 2013

  • 4.5/5

    Came as a school group.

    My group (14-year-old guys) made it up to the top in record time. I would highly recommend walking poles as your feet slip a lot in the snow. We had to turn back at the top though because of a visibility drop.

    Reviewed over 5 years ago and experienced in November 2017

    Sam's avatar

    Sam

    Customer

  • 3.0/5

    Suitable for mountain goats or humans with climbing experience.

    We walked / climbed all the way up and it took us almost 10 hours in total. A lot of climbing over lose rocks at very steep angles. Didn't always feel safe. Once we're up it was nice but considering the climb we had to take it wasn't really worth it

    Reviewed over 6 years ago

    Matthias Kroth's avatar

    Matthias Kroth

    Customer

  • 4.5/5

    Once again very worth the climb, stunning view at the top.

    You can race the clouds and you can reach the snow and have a ski ride. Walk it for free up and then see if you can get a free ride down in the lift.

    Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in March 2016

    GERMANY
    Maximilian Seitz's avatar

    Maximilian Seitz

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    We went there during winter.

    One and a half hour uphill walk if you take the last chairlift. Best views and snow!!

    Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in February 2016

    GERMANY
    Lili Souris's avatar

    Lili Souris

    Customer

  • 4.5/5

    I have climbed Ruapehu, there was snow on the top.

    Beautiful! Nice track!

    Reviewed almost 9 years ago

    FRANCE
    Etienne Douse's avatar

    Etienne Douse

    Customer

  • 4.5/5

    Brilliant walk with stunning views.

    Reviewed about 10 years ago and experienced in February 2014

    NEW ZEALAND
    GN100's avatar

    GN100

    Customer

  • 4.5/5

    Climbed the mountain and was rewarded with a beautiful view over the surrounding lands.

    Reviewed over 10 years ago and experienced in March 2014

    SWEDEN
    Mattias's avatar

    Mattias

    Customer

  • 4.5/5

    When we reached the mountain we understood that the lifts dod not work for the moment so we decided to walk up the mountain.

    That was amazing and good markings.

    Reviewed over 10 years ago and experienced in March 2014

    SWEDEN
    Cecilia Anderson's avatar

    Cecilia Anderson

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    Incredible views from crater lake and surrounding summits.

    Reviewed over 10 years ago and experienced in January 2013

  • 4.0/5

    Nice 5 hours walk with amazing different types of landscape-easy.

    Reviewed over 10 years ago

    GERMANY
    Luca Willensrock's avatar

    Luca Willensrock

    Customer

  • 4.5/5

    This is a fantastic ascension to the summit, totally worth it.

    But I highly recommend a map because there's no track and it's a little bit tricky to find your way, be prepaired.

    Reviewed over 11 years ago and experienced in February 2013

    FRANCE
    Lusi13's avatar

    Lusi13

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    At the top (2020m) with the chair lift 9$30) and then the walk to the peak about 1 hour (2300m) - amazing views.

    Reviewed over 11 years ago and experienced in February 2013

    GERMANY
    Sohie's avatar

    Sohie

    Customer

  • 4.0/5

    Nice track, not too hard, not too easy.

    Beautiful landscape. The chair lift is maybe a little too expensive.

    Reviewed over 13 years ago

    CANADA
    Vincent's avatar

    Vincent

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    Superb views, no discernable path and not a person in sight.

    Superb.

    Reviewed almost 15 years ago and experienced in February 2009

    AUSTRIA
    Tatjane's avatar

    Tatjane

    Customer

  • 4.5/5

    Nice but very tiring walk, you need time (alot) - you need good weather.

    but the view is wonderful.... the best since we in NZ

    Reviewed almost 15 years ago

    GERMANY
    Ines Diana's avatar

    Ines Diana

    Customer

  • 3.5/5

    Took a walk up to the crater.

    Stair lift costs $30, enjoyed it but you need to ensure you take sensible boots and provisions as well as wet weather kit.

    Reviewed almost 15 years ago

    UNITED KINGDOM
    Alan Howe's avatar

    Alan Howe

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    On a sunny day you'll get a great view of Mordor, see the incredible colour od the crater lake.

    Reviewed almost 15 years ago

    AUSTRIA
    Jakob Jurgen's avatar

    Jakob Jurgen

    Customer