An almost perfect cone, 3000ft tall, Ngauruhoe is still an active volcano, which last erupted in 1955 with ash and lava.

The name Ngauruhoe – which means the peak of Uruhoe is named after the slave who Ngatoroirangi, an archpriest of Te Arawa canoe who upon traveling from the Maketu region towards Taupo rested by the lake, the clouds parted to reveal this great mountain. His heart was filled with a longing to climb this mountain, so he took his slave Uruhoe with him on the journey.

As Ngatoroirangi and Uruhoe started the climb, they reached snow, their hands and feet were frozen as the sun was hidden and the cold took hold of them.

In his pain, he called to his sisters in the homeland of Hawaiki.. "Send fire to warm me, do not delay or i will perish!

His sisters heard his prayer, fire demons Te Pupū and Te Hoata traveled through the now Taupo Volcanic zone with the fire and gave this mountain heat. It came at a cost, Uruhoe's body was flung into the crater that bears his name.