Trekking Stories
For and by hikers

Tongariro Crossing

One of the most beautiful day hikes in the world is located in New Zealand. New Zealand is the land of Lord of the Rings, mountains, and pristine nature. All of this comes together in this 6-hour trek covering a distance of 19.4 km. According to many, it's the highlight of their trip to New Zealand. A definite must-do when you're in New Zealand.

  • Hikers on the Tongariro Alpine Crossing in summer - Visit Ruapehu
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The route

The route starts at the Mangatepopo Carpark, about 20 km from the small village of Tongariro National Park. Shuttle buses run back and forth from this village to the starting and ending points in the morning and afternoon. You can be dropped off starting from 6:00 am to begin the trek.

The trail begins flat through beautiful valleys and alpine meadows surrounded by volcanoes and mountains. After about 1.5 hours, you reach Soda Springs, which is also the last spot with a toilet. From here, you enter the volcanic landscape. Following Soda Springs, you'll encounter perhaps the toughest part: the Devil’s Staircase. It involves about an hour of climbing stairs continuously.

After the Devil’s Staircase, you have reached the highest point of the Tongariro Crossing at 1886 m at the Red Crater. This rewards you with a stunning view of all the volcanoes and the famous Emerald Lakes. On top of the Red Crater, wind speeds can be very high, reaching up to 140 km/h! Caution is advised.
From there, it's only downhill through the volcanic landscape. The final stretch to the finish is through active volcanic areas with fantastic views. The Tongariro Crossing finishes at the Ketetahi Car Park, where buses return to the village.


Key tip: 

Dress very warmly! The trek typically takes about 6 hours and covers 19.4 km. It often comes with harsh conditions such as rain, strong winds, and cold. This is why the trek is often closed. Therefore, I recommend planning 3 days in the park to ensure you have a chance to complete the Tongariro Crossing. Considering the extreme conditions, it's advisable to rent clothing, shoes, hats, and gloves from the transport companies in the village beforehand. This is because the combination of wind and cold can make it very harsh on the mountain ridges. I experienced this myself; due to the strong wind, my eardrum ruptured, which was very painful. So always keep your hat on!