Search This Blog

Monday, April 21, 2025

New Zealand: Tongariro Alpine Crossing

The Tongariro Alpine Crossing, often touted as the greatest day hike in New Zealand, if not the whole world. Bagging it was not simply logistically.
  1. Since it's a 20 km one way trail in a remote area, a shuttle is needed.
  2. As our usual style is to enjoy hikes leisurely, we had to base ourselves in National Park to get as much walking time as possible between the dropoff shuttle and the pickup shuttle.
  3. Buses in and out of National Park do not run everyday, only four times a week.
  4. Ten days before, we happened to be chatting with some fellow hikers. They told us how they had to stay an extra day because the trail was closed due to high wind. As soon as I got back, I started to monitor the weather forecast. Sure enough the trail was closed that day for high wind again. I immediately canceled all our North Island plans i.e. buses and lodging. We would aim for the Crossing on the earliest day possible, which turned out to be a Saturday - beggars cannot be choosers.
  5. I continued to monitor the trail. The previous Saturday, a hiker died on the trail of natural causes. Out of respect, shuttles were closed for three days, which further affirmed our determination to attempt the crossing sooner than later.
Finally the day came, it was a rare day with no weather hazard warning, some rain in the afternoon - a go. After the shuttle dropped us off, we joined a parade of hikers on the day's adventure. The first part of the hike is up the other-worldly volcanic field to the Red Crater. Then came the most difficult part for me, down the rim of the crate in loose scree (Had there been a contest, I would have been the winner of the slowest descender, hands down), to a couple of neon colored crater lakes, all amongst some steam vents here and there. Downhill on the other side, there were dreamy views of Lake Rotoarira and Lake Taupo. Soon it started to shower and rain, that kept us at a steady pace, as we didn't bother to bring our umbrellas - surely the wind would render them useless we thought; amazingly it was not windy. Towards the end, we got to walk through a rainforest, complete with waterfall!

In the end, it took us just over 8 hours. I'm sure if it weren't for the rain, we could have taken longer. While the hike may not be our #1, it may be a top 10. The varied landscape is certainly incomparable.

Our accommodation was across the street from the shuttle bus stop with great sunrise views to the volcanoes.
Tongariro Alpine Crossing, National Park, New Zealand

After a 20 minute bus ride, we're ready to walk. 20.2 kms to go!
Mangatepopo Road - The Start of the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, National Park, New Zealand

We are not alone on the first section of the track.
To Soda Springs - Tongariro Alpine Crossing, National Park, New Zealand

The weather is changeable, and can be deadly.
To Soda Springs - Tongariro Alpine Crossing, National Park, New Zealand

On this section of the trail there was a boardwalk across the lava fields.
To Soda Springs - Tongariro Alpine Crossing, National Park, New Zealand

After Soda Springs, the trail goes up, up to the South Crater with great views to the southern valleys.
Soda Springs To South Crater - Tongariro Alpine Crossing, National Park, New Zealand

Soda Springs To South Crater - Tongariro Alpine Crossing, National Park, New Zealand

Soda Springs To South Crater - Tongariro Alpine Crossing, National Park, New Zealand

Walking across the floor of the South Crater felt like we were on the Moon, except there were lots of humans with us.
South Crater - Tongariro Alpine Crossing, National Park, New Zealand

South Crater - Tongariro Alpine Crossing, National Park, New Zealand

South Crater - Tongariro Alpine Crossing, National Park, New Zealand

South Crater - Tongariro Alpine Crossing, National Park, New Zealand

South Crater - Tongariro Alpine Crossing, National Park, New Zealand

From the South Crater floor, the trail goes steeply up and up to the Red Crater Lookout. Sun-Ling was very pleased to conquer that section.
South Crater - Tongariro Alpine Crossing, National Park, New Zealand

South Crater - Tongariro Alpine Crossing, National Park, New Zealand

Red Crater - Tongariro Alpine Crossing, National Park, New Zealand

The highest point of the walk is the rim of the Red Crater. In the first photo below you can spot some steam rising from the rocks and sand. Many walkers stop to take photos.
Red Crater - Tongariro Alpine Crossing, National Park, New Zealand

Red Crater - Tongariro Alpine Crossing, National Park, New Zealand

Tongariro Alpine Crossing, National Park, New Zealand

Red Crater - Tongariro Alpine Crossing, National Park, New Zealand

Sun-Ling was slow on the Red Crater scree downhill, but so were most of us.
Scree Slope - Tongariro Alpine Crossing, National Park, New Zealand

Scree Slope - Tongariro Alpine Crossing, National Park, New Zealand

From the scree slope there were great views to the neon Emerald Lakes and the Blue Lake.
Emerald Lakes - Tongariro Alpine Crossing, National Park, New Zealand

Blue Lake - Tongariro Alpine Crossing, National Park, New Zealand

The three Emerald lakes and steam vents continued to give amazing views. We decided to eat our lunch on the shore of the biggest one.
Emerald Lakes - Tongariro Alpine Crossing, National Park, New Zealand

Tongariro Alpine Crossing, National Park, New Zealand

Lunch Spot - Emerald Lakes - Tongariro Alpine Crossing, National Park, New Zealand

A view back to the Red Crater from near the Blue Lake.
Looking Back to Red Crater - Tongariro Alpine Crossing, National Park, New Zealand

Taking a break at the Blue Lake.
Blue Lake - Tongariro Alpine Crossing, National Park, New Zealand

While at the Blue Lake we turned to look back at the Red Crater and saw Mt Ngauruhoe break out of the clouds behind it. Wow! It was only visible for a few minutes.
Red Crater with Mt Ngauruhoe Behind - Tongariro Alpine Crossing, National Park, New Zealand

The clouds moved in as we began the long, long descent to the shuttle pickup point at Ketetahi Car Park
Down, Down, Down to Ketetahi Car Park - Tongariro Alpine Crossing, National Park, New Zealand

Down, Down, Down to Ketetahi Car Park - Tongariro Alpine Crossing, National Park, New Zealand

And then the clouds lifted and we had views to the near Lake Rotoaira and the far Lake Taupo.
View to Lake Taupo - Tongariro Alpine Crossing, National Park, New Zealand

View to Lake Taupo - Tongariro Alpine Crossing, National Park, New Zealand

View to Lake Taupo - Tongariro Alpine Crossing, National Park, New Zealand

But our luck changed and we walked in a steady but light rain for an hour. You can see I'm drenched, but only on the outside, when we stopped at the waterfall for a rest.
It's 3.1 km to Ketetahi Road - Tongariro Alpine Crossing, National Park, New Zealand

Mangatetipua Stream Waterfall - Tongariro Alpine Crossing, National Park, New Zealand

The shuttle bus was on time and returned us to our accommodation in time to see the gorgeous over the volcanoes where we had hiked all day.
Sunset on the Volcanoes - Tongariro Alpine Crossing, National Park, New Zealand

SL cooked a delish dinner, and the cold Weedcore NZIPA (with NZ hops) was tasty.
Weedcore NZIPA After Completing The Tongariro Alpine Crossing, National Park, New Zealand


1 comment:

mytimetotravel said...

Congratulations! Hate scree...
Kathy

Most Recent Post

New Zealand: Auckland

Auckland, population 1.5 million, a true metropolis at long last, a good place for museums and restaurants. On my birthday we had an excursi...

Most Popular Posts of Last 30 Days