Tongariro National Park - a playground on heights

By MONIKA FRY

Tongariro National Park is a playground for mountaineers, skiers and snowboarders during the winter. But in summer this World Heritage area takes on a new life and becomes the domain of trampers, mountain-bikers, walkers, photographers and sightseers.

Chairlifts on Mt Ruapehu's Whakapapa skifield run during the summer period. For $15 an adult or $40 a family, the lifts will take you to New Zealand's highest cafe. The lifts also take you to the start of the trek to the crater, where there are daily tours (reservations on 07 892 3738).

An alternative is to view the crater and the other two volcanoes in the park on Mountain Air, a co-winner in the 1996 Tourism Awards. The company also offers coach passengers travelling down the island a chance to leave their coach at Turangi airport, spend an hour flying over the park, land at the Flat Hills tearooms near Mangaweka, have lunch, and catch up with the bus.

Department of Conservation activities include tracking kaka, learning about endangered plants, and a trek to lahar areas. The department's Whakapapa Visitors Centre, next door to the Grand Chateau on Mt Ruapehu, offers displays, documentary films and advice. Many short walks can be found which take in bush, waterfalls and tussock areas. Longer tramps are also available. The National Park Village site at lists summer accommodation. For luxury there's the Grand Chateau, with rates from $125 a night in summer.

Websites:

Whakapapa

Mountain Air

Department of Conservation

National Park
Chateau