Volcano Hike, Tongariro Northern Circuit, NZ Great Walks ⛺🌋

On Day One of my solo backpacking tramp of the Tongariro Northern Circuit track, I first travelled by car to the Whakapapa Village where I checked in with the Department of Conservation (DOC) for my campsites and collected my parking pass. I arrived mid afternoon, knowing it wasn’t a great distance (10km) and being summer, the sun would be up for a while yet.

The official track start is located in the lane behind the Chateau Tongariro and heads east towards Mount Ngauruahoe (Mount Doom).

“Your journey begins by making your way across the eroded plains of the Tongariro volcanic complex, a series of explosion craters and volcanic cones and peaks. Venturing through a landscape carved out by ancient lava flows and stream beds, you’ll be dwarfed by the massive cone of Mount Ngāuruhoe on your right. For the final hour the track leads you around Pukekaikiore, one of Tongariro’s older steam vents, before reaching Mangatepopo Hut.”

The Hut was full and by the end of the evening every available camping site was also taken with the last trampers arriving after dark. The wind picked up during the night and as the tent was pegged into sand, some of the pegs came loose causing lots of flapping but not enough to encourage me out of my sleeping bag to find rocks to weigh the pegs down.

Highlights of the day included the tiny alpine flowers, crossing the lava flows, views of Ngauruahoe, Ruapehu and Tongariro and as evening came, in the far distance, Taranaki.

It was a relatively easy walk and once I’d left the Tama Lakes and Taranaki Falls Tracks, I didn’t pass any more trampers. It took me about three hours plus time to stop and film. Close to the Mangatepopo Hut I went past the junction to the carpark where the Shuttle buses drop off the day walkers who traverse the Tongariro Alpine Crossing which is coming up in the next video.

Lord of the Rings fans will recognise Mount Doom / Mount Ngauruahoe which was a volcano in Mordor where the One Ring was forged, and the only place it could be destroyed.

ℹ️Stats

📅 Date: 7th January 2022

☀️Weather: clear and sunny

⏮ From: Whakapapa Village, Tongariro National Park, Central Plateau, Ruapehu District, Manawatu - Whanganui, Region, North Island, New Zealand

⏭ To: Mangatepopo Hut / Camp, Tongariro National Park

Accommodation: Camp ⛺️ $

Difficulty: Intermediate Great Walk / Easier Tramping Track

🥾Distance: 10 kilometres

🏔 Elevation Gain: 308 metres

🏔 Max Elevation 1,202 metres

🏃🏼‍♀️Average Speed: 3.5 km/h

Moving Time: 2:50:21