How long is the tongariro northern circuit

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You can catch these from either Whakapapa Village or National Park that's the name of the village. The shuttles mean you are likely to walk from Mangatepopo and finish at Ketetahi as the shuttles stop picking up at Mangatepopo at midday meaning you would have to start at 5am from Ketetahi. We'd recommend taking the earliest available shuttle. This means you don't have to rush this stunning walk, and you might avoid the worst of the crowds at the Red Crater.

When we hiked this section, we timed it to meet the bulk of the crowds, resulting in a mass of people on a very narrow section. Personally, I'd prefer walking the Alpine Crossing in the opposite direction to everyone else, starting at Ketetahi and finishing at Mangatepopo. The problem with this is you'll have to finish at midday as this is when the last shuttle goes , something which could be problematic.

However, you can park your car at Ketetahi, meaning you only have to get the one shuttle. You can also get to the Red Crater before everyone else with an early start, reaching it for sunrise which would be magical.

If you can handle an extremely early start this could be the direction for you. Finally, the path is better in this direction. You go up the really slippery part and down the steep stairs. Tongariro is a wild place that sees some extreme weather conditions come out of nowhere. We were lucky to have perfect conditions when we hiked, but it is very common to have gale force winds, extreme temperature drops, heavy rainfall and snow.

This makes a tricky walk even harder. We strongly suggest paying close attention to the weather forecasts on these websites: MetService NZ and Yr. Check the weather specifically for Red Crater as this is the area with the most extreme weather conditions. If the forecast is for bad weather or winds over 30 mph on the day you hike between Mangatepopo and Oturere, avoid attempting the hike.

One of the Emerald Lakes from the climb up to the Red Crater. Consult with DOC before the walk and allow flexibility. We can't state enough how dangerous it would be to climb up the Red Crater with a heavy pack in very high winds. Also ensure you have kit for all conditions. Even on a sunny day the weather can turn cold at any time, and hyperthermia is a real threat. We have created a comprehensive Great Walks Packing List that lists all the gear you need.

However, if you want specific advice for the Tongariro Northern Circuit, read on. What to pack significantly depends on how many days you're hiking, but you should come prepared for all weather on any of the walks at Tongariro.

Rain coats are essential as Tongariro is very exposed, meaning you feel the full brunt of the rain. It can also get incredibly windy, so a rain coat can act as a wind breaker. Thermals are a must as the temperatures can really drop and they are good for the cool evenings.

Also make sure you always have a dry set of clothes for the huts, you can warm up hiking, but you can't warm up when sitting still in a hut. Hiking socks are often undervalued as they can make the difference between getting blisters or not.

We tend to choose Keen, but there are plenty of good brands veer away from just getting the cheapest thick socks you can find! You should also bring a spare set of clothes that are for the huts only to ensure you always have dry clothes to change into.

Having wet clothes on the trail isn't too bad as you warm up, but wearing wet clothes in the hut will make you very cold. Cotton clothes also dry slowly and sap your body heat, so bringing woollen or synthetic clothes are a better choice for wet conditions.

Merino wool would be our advice, as it is quick to dry and keeps you warm. We chose our usual stock choices for the Tongariro Northern Circuit: Pesto Pasta for our dinners, cereal bars for breakfast and some snacks for lunch bread rolls crisps, raisins, chocolate.

Having a decent sized dinner at the end of a long hike really helps. Make sure you don't forget tea and coffee and little pick me ups for the evening. Kitchen set pot, matches, cutlery, plates and mugs. The essentials for cooking. We use Osprey packs for hiking and travelling as we own a large one, day pack and tiny day walk pack.

We used the Kestrel Pack for the Tongariro Northern Circuit as we could comfortably fit everything we needed in the one bag and we always seem to carry a lot with the camera and more!

We love these packs as they have good waist supports and straps that are designed to take the weight off your shoulders and around your hips. The top line big backpacks also have mouldable waist straps which customise the fit. It can get pretty wet so you will want to get either a pack liner goes inside the backpack or a rain cover outside the pack. These will keep your food and spare clothes dry. Even if you think your pack is water proof, you should get one of these to make sure.

They are great quality, comfortable, hard wearing and last years! We recommend trying on hiking boots at a shop before buying as each fit no matter what the size differs between every brand. The huts can get very cold, so having a good quality sleeping bag that can cope with the cold is important.

Make sure you check the temperatures they can cope with before you buy. To ensure your phone and camera are fully charged. We love the Anker PowerCore as it lasts for days on just one charge, making it perfect for keeping your phone charged on most of the Great Walks.

We'd strongly recommend downloading some music on your phone and bringing a pair of headphones or earplugs to help you sleep at night.

The bunk houses will have snorers and it's the best way to sleep! As the toilets are separate from the huts, you'll need one. Preferably a head torch. You will not need to have a huge first aid kit, but having a compact one with the essentials is something you must have for the Tongariro Northern Circuit. There are rangers and people who can help, but having your own first aid kit will take the reliance off anyone else. This is a pack of wool that you can tear up and put around your toes and feet to either prevent blisters or make it a lot more pleasant if you have one.

The first 9. The 12,8 km, 5 hour day trudges m uphill then m down. It starts with a steep incline up to the pass between Mount Tongariro and Mount Ngauruhoe. From the highest point you'll be treated to the views of the Red crater and the three Emerald Lakes.

This section of the trail is very exposed, so on a warm sunny day make sure you have extra water. It's classical conical shape with steaming peak made it a perfect choice. The mountain is sacred to the local Maori population, so before you decide on summiting it, consider whether it's appropriate. Check my cover photo, this is by far the best photography spot.

Day2: On the last day the track follows the Waihohonu stream and gradually climbs to Tama Saddle. Upper Tama Lake is literally spectacular!! If you hardly exercise and your day job is sitting in a cube staring in to a computer screen as if it was an abyss sucking your soul out of your eye sockets, you will probably be tempted by this trail, one of the great walks oohhh ahhh.

You may be suffering from a lack of sleep from jet lag and a migraine and sick with a chest cold that makes you want to spit out your lungs. You may be insufferably cheap and choose to tent camp slinging a 65 lb. You may cut your trek down to 3 days instead of 4 due to weather and it's just a few more kilometers for just one day. If so, you may be in a lot of pain towards the end and wonder if it was worth it.

What makes that a great walk? Clever advertising, you got me. You feel ashamed of how pitiful you must have looked over the crossing and of how out of shape and fat you've let yourself become. However, you soon realize you've pushed yourself farther and harder than you thought you could. After a shower and a day to recover you become hungry for more. Although beautiful, this trail for a person like me, is more about overcoming than views.

I've been on harder treks but because of lack of physical preparation and all the choices I made to make it harder, this was the hardest trek I've ever made. A faire absolument dans le sens inverse des aiguilles d une montre.

Tous les gens qui font la Alpine Crossing la font dans el sens normal!! This is a truly spectacular trail that takes you through an amazing variety of landscapes and scenery. Forests, rolling hills, steep mountains, desolate lava rocks, stunning lakes, majestic waterfalls. You name it, this trail likely has it. I did the trail in about 3 days, staying the first night at Oturere Campsite and the second night at Mangatepopo Campsite.

I think going anti-clockwise was definitely the way to go. I stayed at the Skotel Tongariro the nights before and after the hike. If I were to do it all again, I think I would have done it in 4 days instead of 3.

I took some online advice to go straight from Whakapapa to Oturere, skipping the first hit and campsite. While not skipping the first hut would have made for a short day 2, skipping it made for a VERY long day 1, and I was quite ready for a break by the time I got to that first hut.

That stretch of trail was by far the least scenic, and was amazingly unkept. You are literally walking through 1 meter deep trenches for large chunks of it. Phenomenal landscape! Challenging in some sections, however, worth every step and emotion. Highly recommend! I haven't done this hike, but for those who don't know, the volcano in the center of the loop, Mt.

Ngauruhoe, is Mt. Doom in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Volcanos, craters, tussock- what more could a girl ask for!

We took our time and explored a bit so finished in 5 days. We started first with the Alpine crossing. This part is steep. I was also using my hands to walk I was at such an angle.

Lots of rocks so be careful of your ankles and knees on this one. Did the optional Glacier lake on day five, but this is all scree and pretty steep.

Worth it!!! Amazing trail. Beautiful landscapes from Mars like terrain to green moss forests. Highly reccomend and in a tent is better than the cabin personally. Use Navigator in the AllTrails app and join the other outdoor explorers who have completed this trail.

Tongariro Northern Circuit hard Length A volcanic park full of unique lunar landscapes, old craters, lakes, and steaming hot pools. The loop can be walked in both directions and offers incredible views and stunning scenery along the way. Expect some challenging sections with difficult terrain, no shade, and uneven surfaces. Poles are recommended. Reviews From the highest point you'll be treated to the views of the Red crater and the three Emerald Lakes. This section of the trail is very exposed, so on a warm sunny day make sure you have extra water.

It's classical conical shape with steaming peak made it a perfect choice. The mountain is sacred to the local Maori population , so before you decide on summiting it, consider whether it's appropriate. The third day is simple one just like the first.

It's a 7. The path undulates along a stream clad valley and scree slopes where, to begin with, vegetation is hard to come by, but as you descend, sections of native forest become more prevalent. On the last day the track follows the Waihohonu stream and gradually climbs to Tama Saddle. Although the circuit is undeniably beautiful, if you are pushed for time in New Zealand then I would suggest the Tongariro Crossing instead.

For those wanting to summit Mount Ngauruhoe and Mount Tongariro remember that it is sacred Maori Land and summiting these volcanoes is culturally disrespectful.

If you have any further questions about the circuit make sure to post them in the comments! I always answer! I am Marta Kulesza - the photographer and creator of www. I come from Poland, but I've been living, travelling and working around the globe since I turned