Tongariro field notes
Upper Ruapehu & Whakapapa Ski Area

Meads Wall

Easy Short walk Filming location

The quickest walk to dramatic lava cliffs, big views and, for much of the year, snow. A Lord of the Rings location.

1.0 kmdistance
20–30 min returnwalking time
Meads Wall Meads Wall © ELLK Photographic · CC BY 2.0
Iwikau Village 2024 © Kiwiz1338 · CC BY 3.0
Whakapapa skifield © Kiwiz1338 · CC BY 4.0

What you’ll see

  1. 1
    Mt Ruapehu From Ski Field (51643623976)
    Lava landscape· 1,700 m Meads Wall
  2. 2
    Whakapapa skifield
    Ski area· 1,630 m Top of Bruce Road / Iwikau Village
Lava cliffsAlpine rock fieldSnow (seasonal)Panorama of the plateau

The walk

From the car park, walk past the Rangatira chairlift and follow the marked path across the lava field to the base of Meads Wall, a ridge of fractured black andesite used for the Emyn Muil scenes. Views open over the Whakapapa lava flows to Ngāuruhoe and Tongariro. In winter and spring this is usually in snow; check the ski area’s trail report.

Start. Top of Bruce Road, Iwikau Village car park

Snow & season

Alpine in winter

The best bet in the park for touching snow on an easy walk: usually snow-covered from June to October and often into November.

Best season: All year, conditions permitting

  • Snow and ice underfoot in winter
  • Ski area operations
Live forecast →
Nearby

Combine with