Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Tongariro Alpine Crossing
This legendary crossing is often lauded as NZ's finest one-day walk. It's certainly the
most popular, with 60,000 to 70,000 trampers completing it every year. It's no wonder.
Very few day walks offer such thrilling scenery. Among its highlights are steaming vents
and springs, crazy rock formations and peculiar moonscape basins, impossible scree
slopes and vast views in almost every direction. Along the way it passes diverse vegeta-
tion zones from alpine scrub and tussock to higher zones with no plant life at all.
This is a fair-weather tramp. In poor conditions it is little more than an arduous up-and-
down, with only orange-tipped poles to mark the passing of the day. Should strong winds
be blowing on top, you'll be practically crawling along the ridge of Red Crater, the high
point of the trek.
This is an alpine crossing, and it needs to be treated with respect. You need not only a
reasonable level of fitness, you should be prepared for all types of weather. Shockingly ill-
equipped trampers are legendary on this route - stupid shoes, no rain jackets, blue jeans
soaked to the skin - we've seen it all. As well as proper gear, you'll need plenty of water,
as there is none available between Mangatepopo and Ketetahi.
The most crowded times on the track are the first nice days after Christmas and Easter,
when there can easily be more than 1000 people strung out between the two road ends.
The upside of this popularity is excellent shuttle connections, with plenty of operators of-
fering round-trip transport. Be sure to book your ride in advance, and keep an eye on your
progress so you don't miss your ride.
The Crossing starts at Mangatepopo Rd car park, off SH47, and finishes at Ketetahi Rd,
off SH46. It takes takes seven to eight hours to make the 19.4km journey, although this
will vary significantly if you decide to take side-trips up to the summits of Ngauruhoe or
Tongariro - both very worthwhile and taking around two and three hours respectively. A
word of warning: if you summit Ngauruhoe, keep an eagle-eye out for dislodged boulders
careening down the slopes. Injuries do occur.
HIKING
ROUTE
ESTIMATED SUMMER WALK TIME (HR)
Mangatepopo Rd end to Mangatepopo Hut
¼
Mangatepopo Hut to South Crater
1½-2
South Crater to Mt Ngauruhoe summit (side trip)
2-3 (return)
Red Crater to Tongariro summit (side trip)
1½ (return)
South Crater to Emerald Lakes
1-1½
