Ruapehu Country Lodge

13/04/2026

Something cool to do while you're in our area ❤️❤️❤️

01/01/2026

Happy New Year from Bernie and Marie.
We sincerely hope to see you back here with us in the future 🥰

28/12/2025

I am so in love with my garden right now.
I have fresh cut lavender everywhere, it's just so amazing! Drying lots of bouquets for the upcoming year to hang in our bathrooms.
Love this time of year

09/12/2025

Good news, All tracks are open again tomorrow.

Thanks to the very rapid response from a passing driver (hero) seeing a trailer being towed with wheel come off sparks starting the fire ment fast action. Fab work everyone 🥰🥰❤️❤️

⚠️ Tongariro National Park fire contained ⚠️

UPDATE 11/12/2025 1pm

Fire and Emergency NZ (FENZ) has now handed management of the area affected by this week’s fire back to us.

FENZ Assistant Commander David Brown says that thermal imaging drone flights overnight found no sign of hotspots and the containment lines are secure.

The last of FENZ's personnel demobilised this morning, but they continue to monitor the fireground and are ready to respond to any flareups.

--

UPDATE 10/12/2025 7:30pm

Fire and Emergency NZ have declared the fire completely contained, and the Park’s tracks and huts are safe from the impacts of fire.

The fire affected around 300 hectares of Tongariro National Park, in an area near the previous, devastating November fire.

The Tongariro Alpine Crossing, the Tongariro Northern Circuit and all walks in and around Whakapapa Village will be open from Wednesday 10 December.

State Highway 47 is due to reopen at 9pm tonight with a section restricted to single lane traffic under speed restrictions. Due to this, we’re requesting people continue to use shuttle operators to visit the Tongariro Alpine Crossing to help all those still responding to the fire.

Access to State Highway 48 and Whakapapa Village will be restored with no restrictions.

The 10 year restorative rāhui, placed by Ngāti Hikairo ki Tongariro, from November’s fire has been extended to include the new burn areas effective immediately. This rāhui is not to keep people out, but instead to restore the maunga ora (wellbeing of the mountain) and applies to the fire ground.

More information here: https://www.doc.govt.nz/news/media-releases/2025-media-releases/tongariro-fire-tracks-reopen/

📸: Through the work of ground crews and aerial support the Tongariro fire has been contained | DOC

Manawatu, Whanganui - Fire and Emergency

06/12/2025

Just the most stunning cloud formation over Mt Ruapehu this morning.

04/12/2025

Big shout-out to Gene from Plumber Dan tonight. Amazing service.
Life savers tonight when a tap failed. Thank you guys. So much appreciated ❤️

04/12/2025

Whilst the Xmas 🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲 is a little small this year, it's still a real one, and it smells nice. I like the decorations, not over the top.

I hope you like it 🥰

Merry Christmas everyone ⛄

29/11/2025

SOUND ON.!!!!!!!
How magic is this place? I absolutely love dawn and dusk around our house. Soooo many birds, it's noisy, but just gorgeously peaceful 🥰

16/11/2025

Good news for our region. Tongariro Alpine Crossing and most other tracks open again tomorrow

The Tongariro Alpine Crossing will reopen 9am Monday 17th November.

• Tongariro Alpine Crossing can be booked on the DOC website from 1pm on Sunday 16 November.
• Due to carpark damage, access to Mangatepopo Road end will be restricted to registered shuttle operators only, private cars will not be allowed access.
• From 9am Monday 17 November all tracks in Tongariro National Park will be open except for Mangatepopo Track.
• Mangatepopo and Oturere Huts remain closed.
• Tongariro Visitor Centre will open at 11am Monday 17 November and resume normal operating hours.

This is an opportunity to support our local operators who have been severely impacted by the fire.

With the lifting of the rāhui we reflect on the sorrow we feel for the whenua, its flora, fauna and the iwi/hapū and other residents of the district.

Ruapehu District Council would once again like to acknowledge Fire and Emergency New Zealand, Department of Conservation, New Zealand Police, New Zealand Army, Manawatu-Whanganui Civil Defence Emergency Management Group, National Emergency Management Agency, Ngāti Hikairo Ki Tongariro, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Rangi, Te Korowai o Wainuiārua and many other organisations involved in the response.

A big shout out to Otūkou Marae, Raetihi Marae and other hapū for their generous support in supplying and transporting kai for our emergency workers.

And of course, a massive thank you to the fixed and rotary-wing pilots, ground crews, and firefighters.

09/11/2025

Just for anyone concerned about the fire in Tongariro National Park; Ruapehu Country Lodge is on the opposite side of Mt Ruapehu and we are in no danger of the fire reaching us.

19/10/2025

Spring has sprung. It's just so beautiful out there. I missed the sun 🌞 in these photos, a damn cloud came over.
Japanese Cherry trees in our driveway.
Even the sheep are bouncy and happy. So cute to watch 🥰

We are looking forward to welcoming all our summer guests. Bring on summer 😁🥰