Walking in New Zealand: Tongariro Crossing

The Tongariro Crossing is a fairly strenuous 12 mile walk through some excellent volcanic scenery. Don't do it unless you have some experience of strenuous day walks. The path is rough in places and you need good footware. Thin soles result in very bruised feet at the end of the day.

The weather can change dramatically through the day. Carry waterproof clothing, hat and gloves. Shorts and a T shirt are not enough if the weather turns against you.

Carry plenty of water. There is none fit to drink en route. At least 1 litre per person. More in hot weather.

It can be very busy,with long lines of people visible ahead up the mountainside and queues at the toilets at the two huts. It is a linear walk, but it is a big local industry providing the coaches to deliver you to Mangatepopo Road end and collect you from Ketetahi.

If you have a car the cheapest option is to park at Whakapappa and take the coach from there. Coaches also run from Turangi and from Taupo, but be prepared for an early morning start!

Don't try walking it in the reverse direction!! Part of the path down from the top is a loose gravel scree. Easy walking down but almost impossible up.

The path is dominated by the symetrical bulk of Mt Ngauruhoe

Board walks carry the path over sensitive areas. Erosion can be rapid if these surfaces are disturbed. An old larva flow to the right of the path.

The line of people in the distance helps give scale to this view.

The path has come up the valley beyond the person on the rock, with a long steep and rocky ascent at the head of the valley

The path ahead crosses a broad level crater. You can see the line of people climbing the crater rim at the far end.

When you reach the crater rim, the view suddenly opens out over the volcanic landscape beyond.

This is the only section of path where there is any feeling of exposure. In wet weather this section is a very slippery clay, and you will wish you had worn proper walking boots with good soles!

Notice the way mark poles at regular intervals. If the mist comes down and you don't see a pole stop!

The red crater is unmistakeable. Keep back from the edges which can crumble without warning.

This day started hot and sunny, but by lunch time had turned bitterly cold. Many people stopped for lunch on the patches of hot ground on the craters edge. Take care. A tiny steam vent can be scalding hot - don't put your hand on it to see how hot it is!

The path down from the summit is a loose scree. Easy walking down, almost impossible back up. Note that this is an active volcano - it is just not errupting at the moment.

This is followed by a long descent down grassy hillsides. The path is very well maintained with gravel over a plastic mesh.

Further down the path passes a group of hot springs. This is a sacred Maori site and not open to the public.

Below the springs the path descends into podocarp - hardwood forests and the humidity rises.

Picture taken from the main road on the way to Whakapappa. Tongariro on the left and Mt Ngauruhoe on the right

The satellite view shows Tongariro to the north, and Mt Ngauruhoe to the south.

The GPS track shows the route down from the sumit - I sem to have lost the route up. If anyone else has recorded a GPS track for this route I would be grateful if you couldlet me have a copy to add to this page.

Extra map data is copyright Peter Thomson. Scripts are copyright of the original authors.

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