The Tongariro Alpine Crossing is New Zealand’s most beautiful hike if you ask me. So put the Tongariro hike on your bucketlist, because this special 19.4 km hike over a volcano you simply must do in New Zealand. Though I should mention right away: the weather plays an important role. I take you along on our experience!
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Tongariro hike / Tongariro crossing: everything you need to know about this hike!
Hiking the Tongariro Alpine Crossing was the absolute highlight of our round trip through New Zealand for us. The Tongariro Alpine Crossing is also one of the most popular hikes in New Zealand. The 19.4 kilometer long trail takes you through a breathtaking landscape of volcanoes, craters, lakes and glacier valleys and even a bit of rainforest at the end. The photos prove how fantastically beautiful this is.
The hike can be done in about 5.5 hours, but in practice you are on the way for about 7 to 8 hours because of the many photo stops. You are also there to enjoy the nature!
Don’t underestimate your Tongariro hike beforehand. Yes, it is also doable untrained, but you have to make a substantial climb to the top. Here you are within 2 to 3 hours (depending on your pace), after which you mainly descend. Along the way you will experience many temperature differences. At the top I wore a beanie myself, at the end I walked in shorts.
The Tongariro Alpine crossing hike: this is what you see along the way
The beginning of the hike
You start the hike in Mangatepopo Valley, where you quickly get the feeling that you are walking through volcanic area. After about 2 kilometers you reach the first highlight: the Soda Springs. Here gases bubble out of the ground, giving the water a fizzy effect.
When we were here there wasn’t much to see. But from this point it gets really tough.
Climbing to Ketetahi Shelter
Then the trail continues upward. The climb is tough, but the views become more and more spectacular. After about 4 kilometers you reach the Ketetahi Shelter, where you can take a break. This is kind of an open plain where you don’t have to climb for a while. This is a good point to dress a bit warmer.
When we arrived here we still had little trouble with clouds. But once on the other side of the Ketetahi Shelter the clouds had already taken over the area. If you are unlucky, you have this throughout the entire hike.
On to the top with spectacular view
From the Ketetahi Shelter it is still about 2 kilometers to the top of the Red Crater, one of the highlights of the hike. The crater is filled with red rock and offers a panoramic view over Tongariro National Park.
It already gives a huge kick to walk the way up. In our case it exactly cleared up when we were at the top. And that results in a magical view that you see below!
The descent begins
After the Red Crater the descent begins. And here you have to be careful! This is the point where most hikers get injured, at least according to the Visitor Center. You descend very steeply here over loose gravel. Walk slowly and place your heel in the gravel first. This way you prevent falling. You still have to walk more than 10km from this point. Too bad to do that with an injury.
Once down you enjoy the beautiful crater lakes that the Tongariro Alpine crossing is famous for. We chose to enjoy a delicious lunch here, even though we were here already at 08.00 in the morning. Because of our early shuttle it already felt like lunchtime.
By the way, pay attention: the water is sacred to the local population, just like the nearby volcano. Don’t touch the water! Respect the local population.
You then pass Blue Lake, a crater lake with a clear blue color. Definitely don’t forget to look back, because you still have fantastic views of the volcano.
Then you walk through the South Crater, a lava field with bizarre rock formations.
The end of the hike
The last kilometers of the hike take you through the Mangatepopo Valley. After about 19 kilometers you arrive at Ketetahi Road, where you can take the shuttle back to your starting point. During the descent you wind down as it were. You can see this well in the photo below. Do you see in the distance (a bit middle left on the photo) a road winding? That’s where the parking lot is. From this point it’s still quite a walk!
The last 5 kilometers you walk through the rainforest. Think you are almost there? Unfortunately, you still have quite a way to walk through the forests. And is your car parked at the end point? Then you still have to walk a bonus kilometer.
Highlights of the Tongariro Alpine Crossing
- Soda Springs: fizzy water springs (2 km)
- Mangatepopo Valley: beech forests and lush vegetation (start of the hike)
- Ketetahi Shelter: rest spot with valley view (4 km)
- Red Crater: red volcanic crater with panoramic view (6 km)
- Blue Lake: crater lake with clear blue color (8 km)
- South Crater: lava field with bizarre rock formations (10 km)
When you have passed the South Crater the long descent begins. So you see all the highlights quite quickly. But even after the highlights the hike is absolutely still worth it!
Arrange your shuttle service!
With most hikes you eventually end up at the starting point. That is not the case with the Tongariro Alpine Crossing. So you have to arrange a shuttle service back to your car or hotel.
The most popular shuttle: park your car at the end point (Ketetahi Car Park)
The most popular shuttle you take from the end point of the hike. This is the Ketetahi Car Park. There a large parking lot has been built where you can take a shuttle. This shuttle must be reserved in advance. And I recommend doing this in time. They work with time slots. If you don’t reserve you are quickly forced to start at a time when it is already quite busy.
Offer from parking lots just outside the park
Want to look for an ideal time slot? Then there are also alternatives for a shuttle. For example, you have the Tongariro Crossing Shuttles, which both drop you off and pick you up.
Choose the earliest shuttle
We ourselves chose the shuttle service from Discovery. This is the very earliest shuttle that enters the park. On a busy day at least 2,000 hikers do the crossing. Want all of them in your photos? We don’t. The first shuttle goes at 05.00 am. With that you are 1.5 to 2 hours earlier than all other shuttles.
Tip: combine your shuttle at Discovery with an overnight stay at Discovery Lodge.
Stay overnight near Tongariro National Park
There is a very wide range of hotels near the Tongariro crossing. There is also a big price difference. Usually the hotels are not very spectacular, because there is, outside Tongariro National Park, not much to do in the area.
Make a booking for the Tongariro crossing
Since 2023 you have to make a booking for the Tongariro crossing. Not exciting and it costs nothing. This way they want to get more insight into the hikers and what to do in emergencies. You can request this via this website.
The weather greatly influences whether you can do the hike
It is no guarantee that you can hike the Tongariro Alpine Crossing. The weather determines whether this is possible. When the weather is too bad, no shuttle bus will take you to the start. Since you always have to work with a shuttle service, you cannot ignore this advice. The trail itself is not closed by the way.
Does the hike often not go ahead? A sample from my own circle: 1 friend of mine couldn’t do it, a colleague of mine hiked it in thick fog and a couple we spoke to during our trip waited a week in their camper near Tongariro for the ideal moment. They also ended up walking through the clouds. But as you can see in the photos in this blog we ourselves were lucky!
Check the weather at the online weather stations
Are you going to do the hike in the short term? Then your shuttle service will always determine whether you can start. Whether you yourself believe in good weather or not. Still you can see online well whether your hike has a chance to go ahead, because there are webcams at important points and of course the weather forecasts are well monitored for the thousands of hikers per day. There is even a mini news bulletin available every day about the weather forecasts in Tongariro National Park.
View the live webcams:
Handy site for the weather forecasts:
This is an example of the weather forecasts in March 2024.
In which season can you do the Tongariro Alpine hike?
In principle you can do the hike all year round. The trail is only closed during volcanic unrest. From June to October there is a good chance of snow and then the Department of Conservation advises you to hike with a guide.
From November to May it says about 7 to 8 hours for the hike. Otherwise you still take 9 hours for the hike.
What do you need to bring during the hike?
During the hike you can’t buy food or drink anywhere. You also always walk in full sun, provided it shines of course. From the Visitor Center they recommend the following list:
- Minimum 2 liters of water
- Food (for 7 to 8 hours)
- Mobile phone (let someone know in advance that you are doing this hike)
- Flashlight (if you leave before sunrise)
- 2 layers of clothing
- Waterproof rain jacket & pants
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses
- Cap or hat
- Toilet paper
- Hiking/walking shoes
- Gloves & beanie
The temperature varies a lot. I myself walked with a beanie on the top and ended in shorts. The secret: layers!
The Tongariro Alpine Crossing summarized
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | Tongariro National Park, Central North Island, New Zealand |
| Start | Mangatepopo Road, exit from State Highway 47 |
| Finish | Ketetahi Road, exit from State Highway 46 |
| Highlights | Glacier valleys, active volcanoes, craters and vents, old lava flows, colorful lakes, mountain streams, grasslands, rainforest, expansive views |
| Shuttle | A shuttle is needed, since you do the hike one way. A shuttle costs you a few tens. |
| Distance | 19.4 km (one way) |
| Ascent | 748 m |
| Descent | 1108 m |
| Highest point | 1868 m above sea level, Red Crater peak |
| Average time | 7-8 hours with breaks & photo stops (hiking time: 5 hours 30 min) |
| Fitness | Good fitness required |
| Season | Late October to late May (depending on snow and ice) |
| Winter | Trail covered with snow and ice. Climb over Red Crater challenging. Ice axe and crampons required. Avalanche danger. Guide required without alpine experience. |
| Open or closed | Can close during volcanic unrest. Not closed due to bad weather. |
| Weather advice | Department of Conservation & NIWA publish weather advice. Hiking not recommended on days with bad weather. |
| Essential equipment | Waterproof rain jacket, warm layers, sturdy footwear, sun protection, food & drink, map |
| Water & food for sale? | There is no water or food for sale along the route. Also not at the start or end. |
| Toilets | Toilets can be found at the start, end and along the route. These are compost toilets. |
| Parking | Minimal, 4 hour limit between Labour Weekend (October) and late April. |
| Guide required | Only in winter (advice). |
| Costs | Free to hike. Shuttles: $35-$70 return. |
| Suitability for children | Yes, but only for fit, active children (teens) who are used to hiking in the mountains. They must be well prepared. The route is challenging and long. |
| Last volcanic eruption | Te Maari crater in August 2012 & November 2012 |
| Mobile coverage | Large part of route, not for all networks. We had occasional coverage with Vodafone. |
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