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.
Most important tip: Dress very well!
Given the extreme conditions, you can rent clothes, shoes, hats and gloves in advance from the transport companies in the village. This is recommended, because the combination of the wind and cold sometimes makes it very bleak on top of the mountain ridges. I have experienced this myself, my eardrum ruptured due to the strong wind, which was very painful. So always keep your hat on!
Also make sure you have good walking clothes. Jeans can freeze due to the rain, cold and wind and this can cause hypothermia. So make sure you have good walking pants and a raincoat. Also bring enough layers, because the weather can change quickly during the hike.
Stay several days in Tongariro Village
The journey is often accompanied by harsh conditions such as rain, strong wind and cold. That is also why the tour is often banned and the area closed. I therefore recommend planning 3 days in the park, so that you always have the opportunity to walk the Tongariro Crossing one day. I was lucky and was able to walk the tour on the first day, but the following days it was closed every time due to wind and rain.
Bring plenty of water and food!
There are no options to get food or drinks along the way, so take enough with you.
Suitable period
The Tongariro Crossing can be hiked all year round, but the chance of good weather is much greater in the summer months (December to February). During the winter months (June to August) there is snow on the peaks and you need crampons and an ice ax, so this is only for experienced mountain climbers.
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.
Tongariro Northern Circuit
In addition to the day hike, there is also the 3-4 day hut tour through the park. On day 2 you will walk the Tongariro Crossing. However, this is the highlight of your trekking and the multi-day tour is therefore less popular. Walking the Tongariro Crossing is also very weather dependent, so it would be a shame if you have bad weather exactly on the 2nd day and the Tongariro Crossing is closed and you therefore have to miss all the highlights.
To be honest, these days would be better spent on another Great Walk in New Zealand, because with the Tongariro Crossing as a day trip you can see all the highlights. If you have more than enough time, you can always walk the multi-day tour, because it is beautiful anyway!