Summary
The Tongariro Crossing is one of the biggest and best day hikes in New Zealand. Mars-like volcanic peaks and smoking craters may not be the first thing you had in mind for your trip to NZ, but the epic factor on this one is off the charts. If these apocalyptic landscapes look like something right out of ‘Mordor’ in the Lord of the Rings movies, that’s because all of those scenes were filmed here! Therefore, definitely try to fit this hike into your New Zealand itinerary! This travel guide will explain how to get there, and everything you need to know before you go!
Where Is Tongariro?
Tongariro National Park is located on the North Island of New Zealand. The nearest town is Turangi, which is about a 20-minute drive from the park or a 4-hour drive from Auckland or Wellington.
History & Culture
The mountains of Tongariro are considered sacred in the local Maori culture, and it became New Zealand’s first national park in 1894. In the 1990s, the park was recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site because of its outstanding natural and cultural value. More recently, one of the big volcanic peaks in the park (Mount Ngauruhoe) was used as the filming location for Mount Doom in the famous ‘Lord of the Rings’ movies. Nowadays, the trail is hiked by more than 150,000 people per year!
What To Expect: Tongariro Crossing
The Tongariro Crossing is a difficult point-to-point hike that takes most of a day to complete. You’ll hike through an active volcanic area with smoking heat vents, petrified lava rocks, and giant volcanic craters. The last significant eruption was in 2012. Of course, volcanic activity here is constantly monitored, but there’s no safety guarantee.
Don’t let any of this deter you; it’s probably one of the coolest hikes in the world! However, it’s also why it does get a little crowded, especially on weekends. We did the crossing on a cool summer day and found it wasn’t as hard as we expected. There were a couple of moments where we felt like Frodo and Sam trudging through Mordor, but overall it was manageable, and behind every hill we climbed was a rewarding new view.
Just come prepared. Bring lots of water and a jacket for the top of the mountain. Toilets are conveniently placed every 1-2 hours along the trail.
Quick Facts
- Distance: 19.5 km (12 mi) point-to-point
- Elevation Gain: 765 m (2,500 ft)
- Elevation Loss: 1,125 m (3,700 ft)
- Max Altitude: 1,900 m (6,250 ft)
- Difficulty: Strenuous
- Duration: 6 to 8 hours
🔸 Part 1: Mangatepopo To Soda Springs
Easy walk – 1 hour
This section is flat and well-maintained. You’ll walk past mounds of volcanic rocks and a marshy sulfur stream, with early views of the ‘Mount Doom’ volcano. Near the end, there’s a small waterfall called Soda Springs that you can walk up close to.
🔸 Part 2: Soda Springs To South Crater
Moderate/difficult ascent – 40 to 60 minutes
Climb the ‘Devil’s Staircase’ up to the South Crater. This is one of the steeper sections of the trail, so take your time.
🔸 Part 3: South Crater To Red Crater
Moderate ascent – 1 hour
This section starts out as a flat walk for about 15 minutes, then it’s 30+ minutes of steep ascent to the Red Crater Ridge. It’s windy here, and the gravel can be slippery, so keep a safe distance from the edge and proceed carefully.
🔸 Part 4: Red Crater To Blue Lake
Easy descent/flat walk/moderate ascent – 30 to 60 minutes
Prepare your camera and snacks because this is the most scenic part of the hike by far! Behind you is the ‘Mount Doom’ volcano, to your right is the Red Crater, and below you are the three bright green Emerald Lakes. The scree on the way down to Emerald Lakes is very slippery, so enjoy this fun experience as you almost surf down it on your feet!
🔸 Part 5: Blue Lake To Ketetahi Shelter
Easy descent – 1 hour
There’s a short ascent to the edge of the North Crater, and then from here, just go down, down, down! The trail is well maintained and never gets too steep. On a clear day, you’ll enjoy amazing views of the plains and Lake Rotoaira in the distance.
🔸 Part 6: Ketetahi Shelter To Ketetahi Car Park
Easy descent – 2 hours
The end section is the most monotonous part of the trail. Just keep descending into the trees, and the trail will flatten out as you follow another sulfuric stream through the forest. You’ll eventually arrive at a small parking lot (not the starting one), then follow this for the remaining 1 km back to the car park where your vehicle is waiting for you. Done!
What To Bring
- Water: Bring 2L per person or more. There’s no suitable drinking water along the trail.
- Snacks: Junk food makes a long hike easier; this is your perfect opportunity to indulge!
- Footwear: Wear sturdy hiking shoes. You’ll be walking all day, often on slippery gravel and steep inclines or declines.
- Jacket: Bring a jacket, even if it’s warm; it can get cold at the summit even in summer.
- Headlight: Might be a good idea, especially if you’re a slower hiker.
- Camera: Duh! (but sadly no drones allowed)
How To Get There
This is a point-to-point hike, so the process can be a little confusing at first. You’ll need to park your car at the Ketetahi car park and then take a shuttle to the start of the hike at Mangatepopo. That way, once you hike across the mountain and return to Ketetahi, your car will be waiting for you, and you can leave right away.
Tongariro Crossing Shuttle
You’ll need a shuttle to take you from the car park over to the starting trailhead on the opposite side of the mountain. This is necessary. The one-way shuttle rides leave at 5:30, 6:30, 7:30, 8:30, and 9:30 AM, with the ride taking 30-45 minutes.
You can book this service online with GetYourGuide or directly with one of the shuttle companies. The cost is about $40 NZD ($28 USD) per person, and it’s recommended to book a few days in advance if possible.
When To Go
The best time to do the Tongariro Crossing is from November to April. Even during these months, it’s wise to keep an eye on any DOC weather advisories, because the trail may sometimes close due to poor weather conditions. During New Zealand’s winter (from May to October), the trail can be covered with snow and ice, making it dangerous. Therefore, do not attempt it unless you are well-prepared with the proper gear.
Where To Stay – Camping
The night before your hike, you will ideally want to stay as close to Tongariro National Park as possible. You can stay at one of the comfortable holiday parks in Turangi, or at several free campgrounds in the nearby Kaimanawa Forest Park:
These are all very basic DOC campgrounds with drop toilets and no showers. More info on each can be found in the handy CamperMate app.
We chose to stay at a free campground (Waikoko) the night before the hike, followed by a holiday park in Turangi the night after, which provided us with a nice hot shower and other camping facilities after the hike. Regardless of whether you decide to stay in Turangi or Kaimanawa, both locations are just a 20-30 minute drive from the national park, which is perfect!
