Hiking the Tongariro Alpine Crossing: One of the World’s Best Hikes
Considered to be one of the world’s best day hikes, the Tongariro Alpine Crossing in New Zealand is a spectacular yet challenging hike. Hiking the Tongariro Alpine Crossing offers stunning views of volcanic landscapes, emerald lakes, and rugged terrain.
This 19.4 kilometer (12.1 miles) trek takes hikers through diverse landscapes from hiking at the base of Mt. Ngauruhoe to finishing the trek in lush forested areas.
Trekking the Tongariro Alpine Crossing is no walk in the park. This post details our experience on one of New Zealand’s best hikes. I’ll go over the shuttle bus system, what to pack, and what to expect along the way.
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Located on New Zealand’s North Island, Tongariro National Park is the country’s oldest National Park and is known for its volcanic activity, Maori religious sites, and abundance of outdoor activities.
Tongariro National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was listed as a UNESCO site in 1993.
According to UNESCO, it made the list because of it’s diverse ecosystems, unique landscapes, and it’s a cultural and religious site to the Maori people.
If you are traveling to New Zealand in search of The Lord of the Rings sites, Mt. Ngauruhoe in Tongariro National Park is the inspiration and setting of Mordor and Mt. Doom.
While hiking the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, you hike at the base of Mt. Ngauruhoe and at certain locations along the trek, you really do feel like you are hiking through Mordor.
Tongariro Crossing Shuttles
The Tongariro Alpine Crossing is recommended as a one way trek starting from the Mangatepopo Car Park and ending at the Ketetahi Car Park.
Luckily there are shuttle buses that pick you up from Ketetahi Car Park and drop you off at Mangatepopo Car Park. From here you hike the 19.4 km alpine crossing back to your vehicle.
Make sure to book your shuttle to the Tongariro Alpine Crossing well in advance. You can select a date and time through the National Park Shuttles website.
The price for the One way shuttle service from the Ketetahi Park is NZ$60.
There is a large parking area, your car is safe here. Once at the car park, staff will check you in. It’s a wonderful service and well worth it.
Hiking the Tongariro Alpine Crossing
We got dropped off at the Mangatepopo Car Park and began the 19.4 kilometer journey. The goal was to complete the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, one way from Mangatepopo Car Park back to our rental car at Ketetahi Park.
At first, the weather was ideal. It was comfortable outside with a mix of sun and clouds. That quickly changed as we gained altitude toward the emerald lakes.
The first portion of the hike consisted of a boardwalk through the Mangatepopo Valley at the base of Mt. Ngauruhoe.
Passing the popular Soda Springs Walk, we continued on until we saw a sign saying “That was the Easy Part, it’s Much Harder Ahead.”
I would say, the signage along the Tongariro Alpine Crossing was amazing. There were constant reminders to check conditions and your health before proceeding.
There were also signs posted along the route showing distances from each parking area and displaying the distance to the next bathroom.
From here, the trail did become more difficult. The trail was mainly stairs and loose gravel ascending about 350 meters as we reached the plateau of the south crater.
Walking through the South Crater was one of my favorite parts of the trek, not only because it was flat and a nice break from the steep climb but the landscape was beautiful, I felt like I was walking on a different planet.
Enjoy the nice break, because after hiking through the South Crater, the trail gains in elevation quickly as it climbs to the highest point of the trek, the Red Crater at 1886m.
This is the area where I really felt like I was in Mordor from The Lord of the Rings. I pictured Frodo and Sam here hiking the path and starring directly into Mordor.
After reaching the top of the Red Crater, the trail to the Emerald Lakes was deep gravel. Here, I let gravity do its work, but you really have to watch your footing as it’s easy to ski down the mountain to the lakes.
In my opinion, the Emerald Lakes were one of the most beautiful spots we saw while hiking the Tongariro Alpine Crossing.
These lakes are here as the result of craters being filled in with water. The turquoise color comes from minerals in the area.
We took a mini break here at the Emerald Lakes. Although, I recommend taking a longer break at the Blue Lake, about a 20-minute hike from the Emerald Lakes.
We took a break at the Blue Lake, there was more open space here to sit and take a break.
By the way, New Zealand had these amazing trail mix snacks from Mother Earth called Apple Crumble. We purchased them at Woolworths grocery store.
About 5-minutes from Blue Lake there were more restrooms. The restrooms along the Tongariro Alpine Crossing were pretty decent. Some were dirtier then others. Don’t forget to bring your own toilet paper.
It’s all downhill from here! The trail zig-zags for several kilometers. The views from this side of the alpine crossing were spectacular.
Off in the distance we saw Lake Rotoaira and Lake Taupo.
As we descended further down toward the Ketetahi Parking area, the landscapes changed as did the flora. It went from an alpine climate to what seemed to be like a tropical jungle all within an hour it was gorgeous!
Finally after trekking through the forest, we popped out at the Ketetahi side and marched toward the parking lot.
After reaching the car, I felt both exhausted and proud of myself for completing one of New Zealand’s best hikes.
I recommend a change of clothes in the car to change in afterwards and maybe an extra bottle of water and snacks for the journey out of Tongariro National Park.
Hiking the Tongariro Alpine Crossing was a challenging yet rewarding hike. I can see how it is considered to be one of the world’s best day hikes and one of New Zealand’s most famous hikes.
We trekked a little over 20 kilometers in total through volcanic landscapes, passed emerald lakes, and walked through lush forests. The Tongariro Alpine Crossing was one of the most memorable days during our 2-week New Zealand itinerary.
What to bring for the Hike
If you plan on hiking the Tongariro Alpine Crossing then you definitely need to prepare beforehand for the hike and know the conditions.
Thankfully, the shuttle services and official websites post up to date weather information and conditions.
Of course time of year plays a role in how to pack for the trek. I did the Tongariro Alpine Crossing in December which is technically summer time in New Zealand.
Even though it was summer, I found myself using all my gear to include my rain jacket, thermal layers, beanie, and even gloves. Both the climate and temperatures changed throughout the hike and I was well prepared.
If you are hiking the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, here are some of the necessary items to take with.
✅Day Pack with a Rain Cover.
✅Water (About 2-3 liters).
✅Snacks (Trail Mix, Granola Bars, Chocolate, these are all good options).
✅Hiking Shoes or comfortable sneakers. Please don’t wear flip-flops.
✅Water and Wind Proof Jacket.
✅Layers of clothing, including socks. (I found myself adding and taking layers off constantly).
✅Thermal layers both tops and bottoms.
✅Hat for sun and beanie for colder weather.
✅Sunscreen, the sun can get intense.
✅First Aid Kit, at least band-aids and maybe bandages.
✅A fully charged phone and maybe a battery pack.
✅Bring toilet paper for the toilets and wet wipes.
Common Questions about the Tongariro Alpine Crossing
How Long Does it Take to Hike the Tongariro Alpine Crossing?
Generally, it takes the average hiker about 6 to 8 hours to complete the Tongariro Alpine Crossing. It can take more or less though depending on many factors.
What Month is Best for the Tongariro Alpine Crossing?
According to the Tongariro Crossing website, the best month for hiking the Tongariro Alpine Crossing is November. April would be the second best month.
I went in December and the conditions were acceptable. There was no snow along the trail but the weather was still unpredictable. I hiked through fog, rain, sun, and high winds.
How Difficult is the Tongariro Alpine Crossing?
The Tongariro Alpine Crossing is very doable and I considered it to be easy for the most part. Because of the volcanic landscapes, there were a lot of rocky portions and steep inclines.
The most difficult part for me was the length of the trek. You have to pace yourself.
Listen to your body, go slow, it’s not a race, and enjoy the beauty of the trek.
Where does the Tongariro Alpine Crossing Start?
The most recommended starting point for the Tongariro Alpine Crossing is at the Mangatepopo Car Park and ending back at the Ketetahi Car Park.
Shuttle buses drop all the day hikers off at the Mangatepopo Car Park.
Are there Restrooms along the Tongariro Alpine Crossing?
Yes, there are toilets along the Tongariro Alpine Crossing. There were about 6-7 toilets along the trek, about 3-4 kilometers apart. Bring your own toilet paper!
Conclusion
Hiking the Tongariro Alpine Crossing was one of the best hikes I’ve done, no wonder why it’s considered to be one of the best day hikes in the world. Between hiking at the base of Mt. Ngauruhoe (Mt. Doom) to having a snack at the beautiful emerald lakes every step along the 19.4 kilometer trek was both rewarding and awe-inspiring.
I hope this post and my experiences on the Tongariro Alpine Crossing gets you motivated to hike one of New Zealand’s best and most famous hikes.
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