Climbing to Mt Ruapehu’s Summit Plateau is a great introduction to winter camping and climbing.

From Iwikau Village a service road runs from Top of the Bruce up to the base of Knoll Ridge.

It takes about an hour to walk the stony and uneven road.

An easier option is to take the chairlift to Knoll Ridge.

From here it is reasonably easy to make your way to summit – crampons and ice axes are advised as is checking the snow conditions before departing.