Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
there is some moderate climbing, the track is well marked and well maintained, putting it
within the ability of people of medium fitness and tramping experience.
The Northern Circuit passes plenty of the spectacular and colourful volcanic features
that have earned the park its Unesco World Heritage Area status. Highlights include
craters, including the South Crater, Central Crater and Red Crater; brilliantly colourful
lakes, including the Emerald Lakes, Blue Lake and the Upper and Lower Tama Lakes;
the cold Soda Springs; and various other formations, including cones, lava flows and gla-
cial valleys. Optional side trips include the summits of Ngauruhoe and Tongariro, both of
which lie along the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, part of which makes up a leg of this cir-
cuit.
The traditional place to start and finish the tramp is Whakapapa Village, the site of the
park's visitor information centre. However, many trampers begin at Mangatepopo Rd to
ensure they have good weather for the tramp's most dramatic day. This reduces it to a
three-day tramp, with stays at Oturere and Waihohonu Huts, ending at Whakapapa Vil-
lage.
ROUTE
ESTIMATED SUMMER WALK TIME (HR)
Whakapapa Village to Mangatepopo Hut
3-5
Mangatepopo Hut to Oturere Hut
5-6
Oturere Hut to
Waihohonu Hut
3
Waihohonu Hut to Whakapapa Village
5-6
Tongariro Alpine Crossing
HIKING
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
