North Island Volcanic Plateau - Popular Culture

Popular Culture

The Cold Kiwi Motorcycle rally, NZ's largest rally., has been held on the Plateau since 1972. Initially at 6 Crossroads on army land near the highest point on the Desert Road, it has now moved to a new site 6 km west of Waiouru on the Ohakune Road. The event is run by Ruapehu Motorcycle club in early Sept each year. The average temperature is -8C at night. Bikers sleep in their own tents but the club provides competitions, souvenirs, hot food and drinks, a bonfire, live bands and WC's. Tourism is an economic mainstay of the region with a wide range of largely outdoor attractions from trout fishing, flyfishing on Tongariro River or harling on Lake Taupo, tramping, Mountain biking, deer or pig hunting, horse riding to snowskiing/boarding on Mt Ruapehu.

The one day Tongariro Alpine Crossing from the Mangatepopo Valley across Mt Ngauruhoe and Mt Tongariro is considered one of the greatest one-day walks in the world. The 19.2 km track is well marked and popular but trampers should be quite fit and well equipped as the route is exposed, especially during the winter months (April to September). There are two well equipped huts on the route. Detailed guidance is available from the Mt Ruapehu Visitors Centre. The Sir Edmund Hillary Outdoor Pursuits Centre of New Zealand is located on the site of an old construction camp. Started by mountaineer Graham Dingle in the 1970s, this centre offers valuable outdoor training experience and skills to secondary school groups and others. Train and engineering enthusiasts will enjoy the Raurimu Spiral - a railway masterpiece where the main trunk rail line spirals upwards 132m via a tunnel and 180 degree hair pin bends so the passengers near the head of the train can see the rear carriages heading in the opposite direction. This was the last stage to be built in the main trunk railway line completed in 1900. A YMCA, which used to be the local primary school, is located nearby for accommodation.