About Mount Ruapehu and Tongariro National Park
Mount Ruapehu is a 2,797 m (9,177 ft) tall active stratovolcano in the southern part of the Taupo Volcanic Zone, a volcanic area in the center of the North Island of
New Zealand. The Māori name of Ruapehu translates to pit of noise or exploding pit. The volcano erupted the last time on 25. September 2007.
Mount Ngauruhoe and Ruapehu in the background, seen from the summit of Mount Tongariro.
Image: © Guillaume Piolle
Mt. Ruapehu lies within New Zealand's Tongariro National Park (
www.nationalpark.co.nz), home to three active volcanoes Mt. Tongariro, Mt. Ngauruhoe and Mt. Ruapehu. The national park attracts visitors year round. On the slopes of Ruapehu, there are three of the four ski resorts on the North Island.
The region is one of New Zealand's major outdoor destinations, featured by the official tourism website (
www.newzealand.com) as "Volcano adventures, luxury escapes, and historical gems - they're all waiting for you in the Ruapehu region."
The promotion of the region is definitely being driven forward by the help of Hollywood. In the third part of the film adaptation of the novel Lord of the Rings by
J. R. R. Tolkien, Ruapehu and the Tongariro National Park were the settings for Middle-earth's black land of Mordor.
The
Tongariro National Park 
is a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1990.
To find a location use the form below. Use the "Pegman" to enjoy some panoramic views :)
