Tukino Road. Mt Ruapehu. New Zealand.
S 39° 16.690 E 175° 36.630
60H E 380150 N 5651434
The Tukino Road leading up to the Tukino Skifield is a rough rocky 4WD road up the side of a volcano, Mt Ruapehu.
Waymark Code: WM79HT
Location: North Island, New Zealand
Date Posted: 09/23/2009
Views: 7
Beginning at the Desert Road, this 4WD track crosses the sandy Rangipo Desert, before climbing up the volcanic rocks of Mt Ruapehu. In winter you will need a 4WD vehicle with snow chains. There will be snow and ice.
Virtually impassible in winter, relatively easy in summer, this track climbs steadily from the summit of the Desert Road to the private Tukino Skifield. At the end of the track, magnificent views of the volcano and surrounding landscape await those who venture here in clear weather.
The track starts at the Desert Road and after crossing the ford at 1.3 kms it can be driven fairly easily in summer as far as the first carpark at 6.6kms. From here it is definitely 4WD steeply uphill on a very rough rocky track. You will reach the Radio repeater station at 8.6kms and there is a gate at 9.1kms. This could be as far as you can go as the gate may be locked during summer for security reasons. However if you choose a weekend when the skifield has a work-party in progress, you will be able to continue right to the roadend at 13kms. Past the gate the road is rocky and steep, winding around the mountainside until you reach the sandy part which follows up the ridge to the skifield. In winter this will be snow-covered.
The entry to the Tukino Skifield is well signposted from SH.1., about 1km north of the Desert Road Summit.
Start co-ords are: S 39 17.810 E 175 44.460
Road End at Tukino co-ords are: S 39 16.690 E 175 36.630
Points to consider:
You will be a long way from help if anything goes wrong.. DO NOT TRAVEL ALONE!! The weather can change drastically in minutes, you are in an extreme alpine environment, dress for it and carry extra clothes and food. Be prepared.
This is a free access national park, there are no shops, bring everything you think you will need...and take it ALL home again.
Please respect the work done by the club members to maintain the facilities and the road... drive carefully using 4WD.... please, NO wheelspinning/chewing out the road.
Do your "business" in either Waiouru or Turangi before you come up.... there are no toilets and there are no bushes to go behind! DO NOT leave toilet litter in this beautiful environment.
PLEASE KEEP TO THE TRACK. Do not drive across the sandy desert off-track, it destroys fragile plant environments.
DRIVE WITH CARE, we have already rescued one 4WD vehicle with a broken axle, and that was on the easy first stretch! It was only luck that we were there to help, otherwise they faced a very long walk!
Enjoy!
Overall Trail Difficulty: Holy cow! What did I get myself into?
Land Ownership: Public
Popularity: Sparse
Trail Length (approx): 13kms one way.
Parking availble?: Yes
Room for Trailers: Yes
Permit required to access area?: No
Camping sites nearby: No
Are OHVs permitted: No
Highest Altitude: Not listed
Additional Trailhead: Not Listed
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Visit Instructions:
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