After taking in the sights of the two craters on the Crater Lake Walk, continue north and upwards through regenerating native vegetation and past the bare, coloured and steaming ridges. There are regular opportunities for good views over the surrounding countryside, but to get the complete 360 degrees you need to continue on up to the summit.
Approximately 1 hour 30 minutes from the crater lakes, the summit road is reached - watch out for the occasional vehicle as you proceed the remaining 10 minutes to the very top.
From here you can see Mt Tarawera; Lakes Tarawera, Rotomahana and Rerewhakaaitu to the north; the Paeroa Range to the west; the Urewera Ranges and Kaimanawa Forest to the east; and Mt Tauhara, Lake Taupō and the volcanic peaks of Tongariro National Park to the south.
