One Day Guided Walk - The Tongariro Crossing

Tongariro National Park is a special place, in 1887 the paramount Maori Chief of the time, gifted the lands of three volcanic peaks Tongariro Raupehu and Ngauruhoe to the Crown so they could be preserved for all people. This original gift created New Zealand's first National Park which today covers an area of 80,000 hectares, and has World Heritage status.

Tongariro Alpine Crossing One Day Walk

7 - 8 hours walking a reasonable standard of fitness is required
Departure: Daily year round weather permitting (alternate day walking if the track is closed due to snow or prevailing weather conditions)

ITINERARY


Your walk today has been recorded as "the best one day walk in New Zealand" . Over varied and spectacular volcanic terrain, in the presence of two active volcanoes, experience some of Tongariro National Parks special gifts: a cold mountain spring, lava flows, an active crater, emerald coloured lakes and hot springs combined to make this a enjoyable and memorable trip. Starting out from Mangatepopo, walk up the valley following the stream and around the edges of old lava flows that have flowed from Ngauruhoe. Near the head of the valley, a track leads to Soda Springs, before the steep climb from the valley over the Mangatepopo Saddle between Mt Ngauruhoe and Mt Tongariro. Your effort will be rewarded with clear views of Mt Tongariro and on a clear day, Mt Taranaki to the west. Continue to the summit of Mt Tongariro, over the summit of Red Crater the highest point on the track, and down to the brilliantly coloured Emerald Lakes. Continues over Central Crater to Blue Lake. Descend around the North Crater to Ketetahi Hut. Below the Ketetahi Hut the track continues down through tussock to the forest bushline, and the hardwood forest provides a final contrast as you descend to the road end and your transfer back to your accommodation.

Tongariro Red Crater Alpine Experience

The best features of the Tongariro Alpine Crossing are available in the trip we call the Tongariro Red Crater Alpine Experience. Join us for a climb to the spectacular Red Crater of Mt Tongariro, and enjoy the chance to take in the majesty of this active volcanic massif. The views that spread far beyond the National Park will leave you breathless. A fully catered, quality guided walking experience up on to the awesome Mt Tongariro, this package includes transport from Turangi, National Park and Whakapapa Villages, a fantastic lunch, and, of course, all the benefits of being accompanied by one of our friendly, knowledgeable guides. Learn of past eruptions, its significance to the local Maori, and the history of the first National Park in New Zealand. This one day, 16km challenging alpine trek encounters a varied range of landforms and views, with areas of geological importance, and of great cultural significance, as it heads up and on to Mt Tongariro. The trek begins at 1100m by heading into the Mangatepopo Valley, with its eroded volcanic terrain, evidence of the glacier that once carved it out, and more recently, lava flows from Mount Ngauruhoe. This gradual climb takes about one to one and a half hours, before reaching the foot of new (2008) deviation. This climb takes around an hour, and is the greatest single gain of altitude for the day, but the views over the valley make it all worthwhile. The new track makes the climb truly manageable. The walk through the very flat South Crater is easier and leads to the last climb for the day. The track leading up to the Summit Ridge is in a more natural state, and takes between half and three quarters of an hour. The prize is reaching Red Crater (1886m). The volcanic activity is so real that not only can you see it, but you can feel it and smell it too! Below, the spectacular Central Crater sprawls out below, adorned with its three stunning Emerald Lakes. This may tempt walkers to head down the steep descent to the breathtaking Emerald Lakes. This exhilarating descent is optional, and those who choose it will need to head back up the same track to Red Crater. The views north to Lake Taupo never cease to impress. We return to the Mangatepopo Valley via the same track we came up on, giving us the opportunity to see things from a different perspective, and we save ourselves from the very tiring descent on the northern side of the mountain. IMPORTANT NOTE: New Zealand’s changeable climate is part of what makes our landscape so unique and spectacular, so we need to be prepared for this. The weather can change several times in a day, and it can snow in the Tongariro National Park at any time of year, so walkers need to dress appropriately and carry clothing suitable for all conditions.
From tba

WHAT TO BRING:

• Suitable footwear for walking with ankle support
• Comfortable outdoor clothing to suit the season
• Camera
• Sunhat
• Water bottle
• Sunglasses
• Sunscreen
• Light pack to carry days provisions

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