Oceania · New Zealand
Tongariro Alpine Crossing
Tongariro National Park, Central North Island, New Zealand
Hikes / Oceania / Tongariro Alpine Crossing
Effort at this pace: Very hard · about 13 mi (20 km) and 3,924 ft (1,196 m) of climbing a day over 1 day, up to 6,188 ft (1,886 m). Our grade for the days given, worked out from distance, climbing and altitude a day; it isn't the trail's usual difficulty rating (under Basics) and doesn't rate exposure, terrain or weather.
Where these numbers come from
Public sources, official ones first, each numbered and listed under Sources, checked Nov 2026. Anything they don't give is left out.
Relief map
The route
A one-way volcanic day hike across Tongariro, from the Mangatepopo valley up to South Crater and Red Crater, past the Emerald Lakes and Blue Lake, then a long descent to Ketetahi Road. Known for steaming vents, crater lakes and views over Lake Taupo.1
Route drawn from OpenStreetMap (Tongariro Alpine Crossing, read Nov 2026). © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL. Terrain: Mapzen Terrain Tiles (LINZ, SRTM) on AWS. A sketch for planning, not for navigation.
Before you go
The basics
- Start
- Mangatepopo road end, at 1120 m1
- Finish
- Ketetahi Road end, at 760 m1
- Direction
- One way, Mangatepopo to Ketetahi.1
- Distance
- 20.2 km one way.1
- Days
- A day hike: 7-8 hr from November to April, about 9 hr in winter.1
- Elevation gain
- Change in elevation +/- 1196 m.1
- High point
- Red Crater, 1886 m.1
- Usual difficulty
- DOC: Intermediate tramping track in the main season and Expert route from May to October; high fitness needed, steep and undulating. Not recommended for children under 10.1
- Best time
- Main season runs from Labour weekend (late October) to 30 April. From May to October there is snow, ice and avalanche risk; alpine skills and gear are essential and DOC suggests a guide.1
- Permits
- No permit or fee. DOC recommends a free booking for anyone using the track, and a booking is required to use a shuttle or guided walk.1
- Getting there
- Nearest towns include Whakapapa, National Park, Turangi, Ohakune and Taupo. Road-end parking is limited to 4 hours and there is no hiker parking at Mangatepopo in summer, so DOC advises a shuttle (book via local isites). Shuttles mostly stop in winter, though guided trips include transport.1
From the sources
Safety
Rescue numbers
- Emergency: 111 (fire, search and rescue, threats to life in New Zealand)
- Other DOC emergencies: 0800 DOC HOT (0800 362 468)
Source 2
Insurance
- The UK government says insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency
Source 3
Bail-out points
- The first 5.4 km is shared with the Soda Springs Walk, a shorter return option; DOC says to turn back if conditions turn unsafe and offers other walks (Taranaki Falls, Tama Lakes) when weather is poor.
Source 1
From the sources below, checked Nov 2026. For planning, not navigation: check before you go.
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Typical: 1 day (the hike's facts).
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Planning questions about Tongariro Alpine Crossing, answered only from this page's facts, the creators' versions and hikers' public tracks, with where each answer comes from. When the data doesn't say, the answer says "not given".
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Answered from the data
Questions people ask
How many days do you need for Tongariro Alpine Crossing?
1 day. A day hike: 7-8 hr from November to April, about 9 hr in winter.
From Department of Conservation NZ, Tongariro Alpine Crossing (official), checked Nov 2026. [1]
How long is Tongariro Alpine Crossing?
12.6 mi (20.2 km). 20.2 km one way.
From Department of Conservation NZ, Tongariro Alpine Crossing (official), checked Nov 2026. [1]
When is the best time to hike Tongariro Alpine Crossing?
Oct–Apr. Main season runs from Labour weekend (late October) to 30 April. From May to October there is snow, ice and avalanche risk; alpine skills and gear are essential and DOC suggests a guide.
From Department of Conservation NZ, Tongariro Alpine Crossing (official), checked Nov 2026. [1]
Do you need a permit for Tongariro Alpine Crossing?
No permit or fee. DOC recommends a free booking for anyone using the track, and a booking is required to use a shuttle or guided walk.
From Department of Conservation NZ, Tongariro Alpine Crossing (official), checked Nov 2026. [1]
How do you get to Tongariro Alpine Crossing?
Nearest towns include Whakapapa, National Park, Turangi, Ohakune and Taupo. Road-end parking is limited to 4 hours and there is no hiker parking at Mangatepopo in summer, so DOC advises a shuttle (book via local isites). Shuttles mostly stop in winter, though guided trips include transport.
From Department of Conservation NZ, Tongariro Alpine Crossing (official), checked Nov 2026. [1]
How high does Tongariro Alpine Crossing go?
6,188 ft (1,886 m). Red Crater, 1886 m.
From Department of Conservation NZ, Tongariro Alpine Crossing (official), checked Nov 2026. [1]
What's the emergency number on Tongariro Alpine Crossing?
Emergency: 111 (fire, search and rescue, threats to life in New Zealand). Other DOC emergencies: 0800 DOC HOT (0800 362 468).
From Department of Conservation NZ, Contact us (official), checked Nov 2026. [2]
Sources
- Department of Conservation NZ, Tongariro Alpine Crossing (official) · official · checked Nov 2026
- Department of Conservation NZ, Contact us (official) · official · checked Nov 2026
- www.gov.uk · official · checked Nov 2026
Facts are written in our own words from these pages; nothing is copied. Rules, fees and closures change: check the official page before you go.