The Tongariro Alpine Crossing

Trail-blazed as  “the finest one day walk in New Zealand”, this is without doubt a stunning traverse of the volcanic terrain of Mt Tongariro . Among its highlights are steaming vents and hot springs , old lava flows , beautiful water filled explosion craters and stunning views . On clear days you can see Mt Taranaki in the west, Mt Nghauruhoe, Lake Taupo and beyond.

Your first point of call for this walk should be to the excellent visitor centre located just across the road from the Tongariro Chateau . Here you’ll find exhibits of the topography of the park and the history of Maori and European settlement. Most importantly you should consult the Ranger guides regarding the weather conditions for the walk and book your transport.

This is a trek over steep volcanic terrain and a reasonable level of fitness is required.

From the Mangatepopo trailhead to the Ketetahi road end end the distance is 19.4 km with an ascent of 780m / 2550 feet , descent 1130m/3700 feet . Generally speaking , the walk will take around eight hours  For a more detailed itinerary please refer to our Day Walks section or to speak to someone who has done the walk please ring our office.

What our travellers enjoyed about walking The Tongariro Alpine Crossing…

  • The outstanding Park views along the ridge to Red Crater.
  • The colours of the varied volcanic terrain and walking down via the greenstone- hued Emerald lakes
  • The general camaraderie with other walkers en route
  • Dinner and fine wines at the Chateau restaurant to celebrate completing the walk