The Tongariro Crossing is one of New Zealand’s most beloved day hikes – but also one of its toughest.
Trail is notorious for unpredictable weather and conditions. Therefore, before setting out on your trek you should contact shuttle companies in advance in order to check weather and pickup times.
Mangatepopo
Mangatepopo is an ideal location for visitors of the Tongariro Crossing Trail, offering various accommodation options nearby the start point and easily accessible via car, bus or train.
The Tongariro Crossing is an ambitious trek requiring moderate fitness. To prepare properly and ensure a safe journey, pack all necessary gear including at least 1.5 liters of water per person.
If you plan to hike the entire Tongariro Crossing, using a shuttle service will be necessary. As there are various transportation providers to choose from, make sure you research each company thoroughly before booking your trip.
Some shuttle services may cancel their trips due to poor weather. If this occurs, you will either be offered another date or receive a full refund.
As another transportation option, driving your car to either Mangatepopo or Ketetahi and taking a one-way shuttle may be cheaper than driving directly to either Turangi National Park Village or Turangi Village.
Apart from transportation options, you may also wish to undertake the Tongariro Crossing as an overnight trek and stay at Mangatepopo Hut near its start – offering magnificent views of both Mount Ngauruhoe and Tongariro!
The Great Walk Hut offers 20 bunks that sleep 20 people and is available to book during October to April during its Great Walk season (October-April). There are two dorm rooms; dorm 1 contains platform slat bunks while dorm 2 houses single beds. In addition, this facility includes a kitchen, dining table and gas fire in its center – though plumbed gas hobs will only be installed in peak season.
Ketetahi
The Tongariro Alpine Crossing is an exhilarating one-day hike that crosses Mt. Tongariro, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You’ll encounter lava flows, active craters, steam vents, emerald-coloured lakes and spectacular scenery along the way – truly making for a special hiking journey that you won’t soon forget!
Tongariro offers a fascinating glimpse of New Zealand’s ancient volcanic past and is an excellent opportunity to gain more knowledge about the country’s geology during your travels. Here, two tectonic plates were once locked together around Tongariro before diverging at different points; with Pacific Plate descending beneath Indian-Australian plate located north of New Zealand.
If you’re planning on hiking the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, there are various transportation options to help get you to and from its start and back again, such as park & ride shuttle services and one-way transfers from Ketetahi Park & Ride carpark.
These transport services will pick you up from your hotel or hostel and drop you at the Tongariro Crossing starting point (Mangatepopo), returning later that day after having collected you at the trail-head at its end point – providing an efficient means of getting there while avoiding crowds! This service offers great convenience as an efficient means of reaching the start of the trail quickly!
If you prefer an affordable and straightforward method of starting your hike, the Tongariro Crossing mountain shuttles that leave from Tongariro Shuttle Car Park on State Highway 46 at various times throughout the morning could be ideal. These one-way transfers provide great value to self-hikers wanting to complete the Tongariro Alpine Crossing without taking on its challenges themselves.
If you are staying in Taupo, find a service that leaves from town at 5:20am and drops people at the Tongariro Crossing trail-head in Mangatepopo at 6:50am. They also run buses that leave from there at 1:30pm before returning later that afternoon back to Taupo accommodation.
National Park Village
National Park Village is one of the top hiker destinations when visiting New Zealand’s Tongariro Crossing. Situated at the base of Mt Ruapehu, National Park Village provides accommodation and activities to enhance visitors’ hiking experience.
The township also provides numerous other facilities to visitors while staying there, such as a visitor center and shops offering books and maps. Furthermore, King Canyon Visitor Centre provides visitors with information regarding its famous giant sequoias.
Transport options to and from the Tongariro Crossing vary widely, with several companies providing shuttles between Mangatepopo and Ketetahi trailheads. Shuttle services can make an important contribution towards improving hiker experiences by guaranteeing adequate space on the path, while helping relieve resource stress in national parks.
For those wanting to stay closer to the trail, National Park Village campsite can provide both overnight hikers with camping spots as well as shuttle service from its secure carpark.
Plateau Lodge provides both lodging and transportation to Tongariro Crossing and Tongariro Circuit hikers and is an ideal option for couples, small tour groups, families or anyone interested in exploring Whakapapa Ski field, Tongariro Crossing hikes as well as shorter walks, multi-day tramps or bike trails.
The Tongariro Crossing is one of New Zealand’s iconic day hikes, winding its way from Mangatepopo Valley through Ketetahi Hut and onto Emerald Lakes before ending at its ending point – one of New Zealand’s nine Great Walks which can be completed within a single day or over multiple days.
Whakapapa Village
Whakapapa Village is a small township conveniently situated next to Mt Ruapehu and New Zealand’s largest ski field, making it an ideal base for hiking and skiing adventures, with accommodation options tailored specifically towards meeting any budget.
Hiking is one of the main draws to this region, and there are various trails around the village – some belonging to the Tongariro Crossing and Tongariro Northern Circuit Great Walk – offering spectacular views and other longer routes up alpine pastures and along bizarre volcanic terrain.
Shorter day hikes of three to seven miles include the Taranaki Falls Track, which drops over twenty meters into an invigorating waterfall. It takes you through alpine grasslands and beech forests before reaching its destination – Taranaki Falls!
Staying near a ski area is a popular option, and Whakapapa Village offers plenty of accommodations and restaurants close to its ski fields. Some accommodations can even be found right there!
Whakapapa Village provides other accommodation options, including the Skotel Alpine Resort, which is just 10 minutes’ drive away from the ski fields and features a restaurant, hot tub, terrace bar with fireplace, as well as rooms that overlook Mt Ruapehu and surrounding mountains.
If you need a way to get around, there are multiple buses running between Whakapapa Village and other parts of New Zealand. These affordable and efficient options offer convenient ways of traversing this part of New Zealand.
Ohakune
Ohakune is one of the main towns within Tongariro National Park and can be found between Mount Ruapehu and Lake Taupo, housing numerous shops, restaurants and accommodation options. As its hub on the Old Coach Road cycle trail it also serves as an important shopping and tourist hub with a plethora of services nearby such as bike trails.
While not as large as other towns, Ketetahi provides many services that can make your Tongariro Crossing experience go more smoothly. If your accommodation doesn’t provide its own shuttle service, renting a private shuttle could allow you to complete your hike in six to eight hours rather than the typical five.
Booking a park and ride shuttle for the Tongariro Crossing allows you to start and end your walk from a convenient carpark on State Highway 46 (Ketetahi Road). This service allows hikers to experience all that this majestic trail has to offer without needing their own vehicle – booking in advance ensures maximum flexibility!
If you are visiting Tongariro National Park for a holiday, accommodation providers work closely with shuttle companies to provide convenient and reliable transport options to their hiking destinations. In addition, these accommodation providers may provide weather reports so you can determine whether crossing is safe at your chosen time of visit.
To experience all that Tongariro Crossing has to offer, it’s recommended that you book in advance for a guided tour. Outdoor activity companies usually specialize in such tours; their guides know the area well and have years of experience guiding people along its trails. Plus they will usually provide maps and information sheets so you have every chance of completing it successfully without getting lost along the way!