The tourist towns of Raetihi, Whakapapa Village, National Park and Ohakune are located near Mount Ruapehu in the south east of the district. Waiouru, with an elevation of 815 metres, is in the extreme south east of the district and houses the large Waiouru Army Camp. The southern section of the infamous Desert Road section of State Highway 1 runs through the east of the district, from Waiouru to Rangipo.