Best things to do in Manawatu-Wanganui Region

Manawatu-Wanganui Region: The Absolute Essentials

This selection highlights the geological and natural diversity of the Manawatu-Wanganui region. It features the dual World Heritage-listed Tongariro National Park, home to active stratovolcanoes and the mineral-rich volcanic lakes of the Tongariro Alpine Crossing. The list also encompasses the dense native forests and river systems of Whanganui National Park and the rugged Ruahine Range, alongside accessible landmarks such as Taranaki Falls and Mangawhero Falls on the slopes of Mount Ruapehu.

Blueromulan / CC BY-SA 3.0

Tongariro National Park

Tongariro National Park is the oldest national park in New Zealand, located in the central North Island.

Eusebius / CC BY 3.0

Mount Tongariro

Part of the Tongariro volcanic complex, this active volcano reaches 1,978 meters. It features multiple craters and forms a central part of the Tongariro Alpine Crossing.

Travel & Shit / CC BY-SA 2.0

Mount Ngāuruhoe

Mount Ngauruhoe is a volcanic cone in New Zealand. It is the youngest vent in the Tongariro stratovolcano complex on the Central Plateau of…

Jeffrey Pang / CC BY 2.0

Emerald Lakes

Three water-filled explosion craters near the Red Crater. Their distinctive vivid color is caused by dissolved minerals leached from the surrounding volcanic rock.

Christoph Strässler / CC BY-SA 2.0

Taranaki Falls

A 20-meter waterfall that plunges over the edge of an ancient andesite lava flow formed by an eruption of Mount Ruapehu approximately 15,000 years ago.

Blueromulan / CC BY-SA 3.0

Tawhai Falls

A 13-meter waterfall tumbling over an ancient lava flow. It served as a filming location for the Forbidden Pool in The Lord of the Rings film trilogy.

I Kd / CC BY-SA 3.0

Whakapapa Nature Walk

A 15-minute loop track starting from Whakapapa Village that winds through mountain beech forest and crosses the Whakapapanui Stream.

Whanganui National Park

The Whanganui National Park is a national park located in the North Island of New Zealand.

Michal Klajban / CC BY-SA 4.0

Ruahine Range

The Ruahine Range is the largest of several mountain ranges in the North Island of New Zealand that form a ridge running parallel with the…

Jeff Hitchcock / CC BY 3.0

Mangawhero Falls

A 25-meter waterfall located on the slopes of Mount Ruapehu along the Ohakune Mountain Road, featuring a dramatic drop over a volcanic rock ledge.

ogwen / CC BY-SA 3.0

Blue Lake

A cold, acidic lake filling an ancient volcanic vent. It is considered tapu (sacred) to local Māori and marks a high point on the Tongariro Alpine Crossing.

rheins / CC BY 3.0

Devil's Staircase

A steep, zig-zagging section of the Tongariro Alpine Crossing that climbs from the Mangatepopo Valley to the South Crater, ascending roughly 200 meters in elevation.

Blueromulan / CC BY-SA 3.0

Red Crater

The highest point on the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, this active scoria cone features a distinct reddish hue from oxidized iron and an exposed basalt dike.