Bruce Road provides access from State Highway 47 around the northwest side of Tongariro National Park to the Whakapapa Ski Field on Ruapehu. It is shorter than Ohakune Mountain Road, with generally much better views and more interesting and extreme volcanic rock formations.
Lower down, the road is skirted by scrubby bush and some low forest, allowing superb views of Ruapehu and Tongariro/Ngauruhoe. At the base of the mountain in the Whakapapa Village is the Chateau Tongariro. This dates back to the 1920s. Along with the construction of the road and the development of ski club buildings at the road end, it marked the appearance of skiing in National Park.
The road passes through a section of mountain forest but then quickly ascends above the tree line and up a long volcanic rock ridge to Iwikau Village at the base of the ski field. There are several safe stopping points that allow you to explore the ridge and take in the view. Try to be there during golden hour – the mountain face transitions through gold and reds unless covered in snow!
There are short walks from the road, including the easy Tawhai Falls Walk. More walks are accessible from Whakapapa Village, including the multi-day Round the Mountain Track and the 3-day Tongariro Northern Circuit, one of the NZ Great Walks. From the Top of the Bruce, you can get a gondola and then hike to the top of Ruapehu.
