Ruahine Range topographic map

The first development in the young Tongariro National Park was the construction of tourist huts at the beginning of the 20th century, but it was not until the opening of the North Island Main Trunk railway line between Auckland and Wellington in 1908 and the building of roads in the 1920s that a significant…

Average elevation: 888 m

Average elevation: 74 m

Average elevation: 391 m

Although the land Palmerston North is situated on is bounded by the lofty Ruahine and Tararua ranges in the east and south respectively, the city has a predominantly flat appearance. The occasional rise in elevation occurs further away from the river and is especially pronounced in the north and northeast, and…

Average elevation: 118 m

Average elevation: 538 m

Average elevation: 246 m

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Average elevation: 294 m

The source of the Mangawhero River is located on the slopes of Mt Ruapehu at elevation of approximately 1,800 m (5,900 ft). The river begins within the area of the Tūroa skifield and flows down the slopes of the mountain in a south west direction. The Ohakune Mountain Road, built during the 1950s and 60s,…

Average elevation: 460 m

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Average elevation: 372 m

Ruapehu has a polar tundra climate (Köppen: ET) on the upper slopes, with average temperatures ranging from −4 to 15 °C (25 to 59 °F) in summer and −7 to 7 °C (19 to 45 °F) in winter, depending on elevation and cloudiness. On the lower slopes, Ruapehu has a subpolar oceanic climate (Köppen: Cfc).

Average elevation: 2,474 m

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Average elevation: 531 m

Ohakune is located in the Ruapehu District and the Manawatū-Whanganui region, to the immediate south-west of the slopes of the Mount Ruapehu stratovolcano. The associated Ohakune volcanic complex is just to the north of the town and the small maar lakes Rangatauanui and Rangatauaiti are to the south of the…

Average elevation: 595 m

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Average elevation: 934 m

Average elevation: 66 m

Waiouru's climate is mild, with very little temperature variation from month to month throughout the year, but because of its high altitude and close proximity to Mt Ruapehu it is still relatively cool compared to other North Island population centres, and can get quite cold at anytime of the year when the…

Average elevation: 814 m

Average elevation: 50 m

Average elevation: 74 m

Under the Köppen, Taumarunui has an Oceanic climate:(Cfb). Due to location, low altitude and Geography surroundings, Taumarunui is more liable to warm to hot summers than other central North Island centres and in winter Taumarunui is cold and frosty. Rainfall yearly is 1,449 mm (57.047244 in). Annual sunshine…

Average elevation: 245 m

Pohangina is located along the foot of the Ruahine Range, and is primarily farming land. Farming varies from sheep and cattle to crops of maize and 'chow'. The farmland was originally ancient native forest. Rimu and northern rātā grew above 1000 feet, with kamahi, kaikawaka and pink pine growing at higher…

Average elevation: 190 m

Although the land Palmerston North is situated on is bounded by the lofty Ruahine and Tararua ranges in the east and south respectively, the city has a predominantly flat appearance. The occasional rise in elevation occurs further away from the river and is especially pronounced in the north and northeast, and…

Average elevation: 118 m

Average elevation: 28 m

Average elevation: 253 m

Average elevation: 37 m

Average elevation: 60 m

Average elevation: 1,162 m

Average elevation: 563 m

Average elevation: 41 m

Average elevation: 37 m

The high altitude and severe alpine climate between March and October allow snowfall in the winter (there are commercial ski-fields at neighbouring Mount Ruapehu) and rain can freeze, causing verglas; in contrast in the mid to late summer, the mountains can be bare apart from remnant patches of snow in…

Average elevation: 1,675 m

Because of its high altitude and close proximity to Mt Ruapehu, Waiouru's climate is cold throughout the year, unlike other North Island centres, and particularly cold when the wind blows from the mountain. The Desert Road is regularly closed in winter owing to heavy snowfalls. Waiouru's climate can be…

Average elevation: 817 m

Average elevation: 545 m

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Average elevation: 8 m

Average elevation: 13 m

Average elevation: 309 m

Average elevation: 528 m

Although the land Palmerston North is situated on is bounded by the lofty Ruahine and Tararua ranges in the east and south respectively, the city has a predominantly flat appearance. The occasional rise in elevation occurs further away from the river and is especially pronounced in the north and northeast, and…

Average elevation: 133 m

Average elevation: 74 m

Average elevation: 243 m

Average elevation: 140 m

Average elevation: 66 m

Average elevation: 528 m

At the time of human arrival, the Manawatū Plains were covered with forest. Towards the foothills and the Manawatū Gorge grew black beech, turning into tawa forest at lower altitudes. Along the plains and terraces the forest was mixed podocarp and tōtara, changing to mixed tawa, tītoki, and māhoe in the…

Average elevation: 275 m

Average elevation: 253 m

Because of its high altitude and close proximity to Mt Ruapehu, Waiouru's climate is cold throughout the year, unlike other North Island centres, and particularly cold when the wind blows from the mountain. The Desert Road is regularly closed in winter owing to heavy snowfalls. Waiouru's climate can be…

Average elevation: 817 m

The high altitude and severe alpine climate between March and October allow snowfall in the winter (there are commercial ski-fields at neighbouring Mount Ruapehu) and rain can freeze, causing verglas; in contrast in the mid to late summer, the mountains can be bare apart from remnant patches of snow in…

Average elevation: 1,675 m

Average elevation: 37 m

Average elevation: 32 m

Average elevation: 134 m

Average elevation: 74 m

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Average elevation: 140 m

Average elevation: 246 m

Average elevation: 635 m

Average elevation: 538 m

Although the land Palmerston North is situated on is bounded by the lofty Ruahine and Tararua ranges in the east and south respectively, the city has a predominantly flat appearance. The occasional rise in elevation occurs further away from the river and is especially pronounced in the north and northeast, and…

Average elevation: 133 m

Average elevation: 155 m

Average elevation: 531 m

Like the whole of New Zealand, Tongariro National Park is situated in a temperate zone. The prevailing westerly winds gather water over the Tasman Sea. As the volcanoes of Tongariro National Park are the first significant elevations that these winds encounter on the North Island, besides Mount Taranaki, rain…

Average elevation: 888 m

Average elevation: 310 m

Much of the desert lies at an altitude of over 600 m (2,000 ft), and a considerable proportion of it is over 1,000 m (3,300 ft) above sea level. Many of the North Island's largest rivers have their headwaters in the area, particularly around the slopes of Mount Ruapehu, the North Island's highest mountain.…

Average elevation: 1,015 m

Average elevation: 51 m

Under the Köppen, Taumarunui has an Oceanic climate:(Cfb). Due to location, low altitude and Geography surroundings, Taumarunui is more liable to warm to hot summers than other central North Island centres and in winter, Taumarunui is cold and frosty. Rainfall yearly is 1,449 mm (57.047244 in). Annual…

Average elevation: 245 m

Average elevation: 134 m

Average elevation: 33 m

Average elevation: 140 m

Average elevation: 118 m

Average elevation: 74 m

Average elevation: 84 m

Average elevation: 265 m

Average elevation: 389 m