Mt Ruapehu Summit Plateau Guided Group Hike
Looking for a challenge? Make sure you tick Mt Ruapehu Summit Plateau off your list.
Climb above the clouds to see sweeping views of Tongariro National Park and the entire volcanic zone. Have lunch on the summit plateau on New Zealand’s highest volcano from where you can gaze down at the crater lake.
We guide all year, summer and winter, with snow up until the end of December. This is a fantastic snow experience using crampons and ice axes. Explore our group tours if you’re traveling alone or looking to meet and make friends with people from all around the world, alternatively we have private tours where everybody you walk with will be somebody you know.
Mt Ruapehu
PREMIUM
Group Hike
FULLY REFUNDABLE*
- Refundable if Adrift cancels due to poor weather forecasts.
- Refundable if clients cancels 14 days prior to trip date.
Winter equipment included
Crampons, ice axe and helmet if needed
Additional boot and clothing hire
Included to the value of $40
Transport
Between the start and end of the walk and the Adrift Tongariro base included
Accommodation transfers an optional extra
Taupo CBD, Turangi, Whakapapa Village
Lunch an optional extra
Interested in a private tour?
Find out more
Reconfirmation
All customers are required to reconfirm between 10:00am – 5:00pm the day prior to trip date. Single bookings 3 days prior to establish if minimum numbers have been met.
Phone: +64 7 8922 751 WhatsApp: +64 274 462 364
Waiver
Each participant is required to fill out a waiver prior to arriving on site. Look out for your unique waiver link in your inbox 3 days before your tour date.
What to expect on the day
After calling to reconfirm the day before your tour, meet the team at the Adrift Tongariro base the morning of the tour at 8:00am in Summer (1 October – 31 March) and 7:00am in winter (1 April – 30 September). Clients can park their vehicle outside the Adrift Tongariro base safely, at no cost for the day. When you arrive, our guides will check everyone in, go over the day’s trip conditions and assess and provide the required equipment, and additional clothing and boots if needed. Once we meet you, you are under our guidance so you can then relax and enjoy the journey with Adrift.
We will then transport you and the guides from the Adrift Tongariro base in National Park Village to the start of the walk at the Whakapapa Ski area at the top of the Bruce Road. If the chairlifts are operating there may be an option of taking a chairlift up to Knoll Ridge cafe. At the end of the tour we transport you from the end of the walk back to the Adrift Tongariro base in National Park Village. Once you arrive back at our base you then return in your vehicle back to your accommodation.
Adrift Tongariro Base
53 Carroll Street
National Park 3948
Track information
Total distance: 10 kms return or 7 kms return when the chairlift is utilised
Elevation gain: 1,010m (3,313 feet)
Walking time: 6 – 7 Hours
Track conditions: Unformed route and the track is not marked. Less stable walking than on the Tongariro Alpine Crossing. The terrain is uneven and steep in places.
The walk begins and ends at the Whakapapa Ski area at the top of the Bruce Road (1640m) on Mt. Ruapehu. We like to break down the climb into 3 stages.
Stage 1: Starting at the Carpark (1640m) we follow the gongola line up through the ski field passing through “The Rock Garden” up to “Hut Flat”, then on and up “ the Waterfall” section before heading into the entrance of Te Heu Heu Valley, finishing this stage at “The knoll Cafe” (2000m). This takes approximately 1 hour 15 minutes.
Stage 2: We then head up, aiming slightly south towards the top of the “Far West“ T Bar until we reach the ski field boundary (2300m). The time for this stage 2 is approx 1 hour
Stage 3: Walk up “Restful Ridge” to the “Notch” (approx 2650m), the entrance to the Summit Plateau and our first view of Mt. Ruapehu Summit. If conditions allow, we hike 15 minutes to the Summit Dome overlooking Crater Lake, spending just enough time at the lookout to take photos before returning to the notch for lunch. Time for stage 3 is approx 1 hour 30 minutes.
Finally we retrace our steps back to the Carpark, finishing approximately 6 hours after we start. There may be an option of taking a chairlift up to Knoll Ridge cafe. This option will depend on the group on the day and if the chairlifts are operating. Payment for the chairlift is about $40 pp and is made to Ruapehu Alpine Lifts (situated at the start of the walk). The lifts close at 4.00 pm daily, should conditions deteriorate during the day the lifts may have to be closed earlier.
Sacred Mountains
The alpine lakes and peaks of the mountains are sacred to the local Māori tribe Ngāti Hikairo ki Tongariro. Respectfully, they ask that peaks are not climbed and waterways are not to be touched. Additionally we like to show our respect by ensuring we leave no trace, and even helping the environment by retrieving wrappers from those who have gone before us.
More Guided Tours from Adrift
Tongariro Crossing
Guided Walk
New Zealand’s best one-day walk, located in the Tongariro National Park, a UNESCO Dual World Heritage site. Walk between Mt. Ngauruhoe and Mt. Tongariro, past craters and the Blue and Emerald Lakes.
Half Day Tongariro Alpine
Guided Walk
Ideal if time is limited or you are unable to spend the whole day walking the Tongariro Crossing. Start on the Tongariro Alpine Crossing track and walk amongst the volcanoes up to the Soda Springs.
Private 1 Day Whanganui River Guided Canoe
Paddle one of New Zealand’s Great Walks by canoe. Experience the NZ wilderness as you paddle through a mix of farmland and native bush, wondering if you have taken a step back in time.