I recall seeing a photo of someone's tent on taranaki. they wrote about staying up there overnight. I thought it was on this website.
It would seem to me the crater would be the likely campsite for a tent. You could bivvy anywhere i suppose. You might be lucky enough to get fine enough weather to sleep out on a groundsheet. Take the tent anyway. Pays to be prepared.
I wouldn't think of ascending from the south unless you camp near Syme hut on Fanthoms Pk. Just imagine that scree from Syme hut for 700m alt.gain with no clear path and a big pack.
i'll be hanging out on Ruapehu's crater this winter if anyones interested
in some cold camping.
Yeah I did camp up on Mt Taranaki last year, was spectacular. Indeed it pays to be prepared 100 percent.