The Tongariro Alpine Crossing is New Zealand’s BEST one day hike. If you want to walk New Zealand's top one day hike, the Tongariro Crossing is it. New Zealand Great Walks

Tongariro Alpine Crossing Description

It’s a gentle start as you climb up the Mangatepopo Valley. At times flattish and with very good boardwalks, there’s plenty of time to warm up. A small detour takes you over to the Mangatepopo waterfall, this is the first time I’ve seen it flowing so strongly.

This Crossing was completed in February, New Zealand’s warmest month but even so, there was the need for the jacket for much of it and it pays to go well prepared as the weather in this alpine environment changes very rapidly.

The walk begins at about eleven hundred metres (1,120 metres) with the highest point of the Crossing being at nearly nineteen hundred (1,886 metres). Be sure to look back and enjoy the views on the way up.

After the Devil’s Staircase, the saddle between Mount Tongariro and Mount Ngauruhoe and the large South Crater offer some relief and Lord of the Ring fans will recognise “Mount Doom” over my shoulder.

About halfway up the next climb there’s a natural rest point and great views into the magnificent Red Crater. This is not somewhere I’d like to be in low cloud or high winds and fortunately, if the conditions are unsuitable, the Track is closed for safety.

One last steep pitch to the high point of the Crossing and your first views down to the vivid Emerald Lakes and beyond to the Blue Lake. If you’re completing Te Araroa walk, you’ll have to walk up this steep volcanic scree track whereas I had the fun of running down!

Most hikers break for lunch around the Emerald Lakes where they can enjoy the view back up to the highpoint from where they’ve just descended. As soon as I stopped, I became cold again so was pleased to find a sheltered spot out of the worst of the wind.

The high point behind me is the Tongariro Alpine Crossing. Between the Emerald and Blue Lakes is the junction with the Tongariro Northern Circuit. The Alpine Crossing track continues through the Central Crater with a smallish climb up to the Blue Lake. Be sure to take plenty of drinking water as there’s none available on the track.

To finish, the track sidles around the northern slopes of Tongariro then zigzags all the way down the mountain to the trail head.

This is the top New Zealand one day hike, in summer, expect there to be plenty of other hikers around.

ℹ️Stats

📅 Date: 11/02/2023

☀️Weather: Summer, cool with light rain at times

🌲Location: Tongariro Alpine Crossing, Tongariro National Park, Ruapehu District, Manawatū-Whanganui, New Zealand

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