Image: DOC
A multi peaked mountain jutting out of a barren area
Mount Ruapehu volcanic alert December 2020

Archived content: This media release was accurate on the date of publication. 

Learn about the December 2020 volcanic alert level increase for Mt Ruapehu.

Date:  11 January 2021

What happened

DOC closed the summit area of Mount Ruapehu, including a 2 km radius from the centre of Te Wai ā-moe/Crater Lake.

Download map showing where you couldn't go (PDF, 3,179K).

Ruapehu current volcanic alert level.

Mount Tongariro and the Tongariro Alpine Crossing were not affected by increased volcanic unrest at Mount Ruapehu and remain open.

All other tracks in Tongariro National Park were also open as usual.

Timeline