By air
Taupō (TUO), ~1 h by road
Australia & New Zealand · New Zealand
Tongariro, New Zealand
A volcanic crossing past emerald lakes
Getting there
Best time to visit
December to March — the crossing is most reliable in summer
Don't miss
The Emerald Lakes
Red Crater
Mount Ngauruhoe
Mount Ruapehu
Things to do
The Tongariro Alpine Crossing
Skiing Ruapehu in winter
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: Eusebius · CC BY 3.0
What to pack
Hiking boots, layers, plenty of water
A quieter corner
Taranaki Falls, a gentle walk from Whakapapa
Questions travellers ask
When is the best time to do the Tongariro Alpine Crossing?
December to March — the crossing is most reliable in summer. Bring hiking boots, layers and plenty of water.
What are the main sights in Tongariro?
The Emerald Lakes, Red Crater, Mount Ngauruhoe and Mount Ruapehu, which you can ski in winter.
Is there a gentler walk in Tongariro?
Yes — Taranaki Falls, a gentle walk from Whakapapa.
How do I get to Tongariro?
Fly into Taupō (TUO), about 1 h away by road. National Park village does hearty café food.
About Tongariro
- Mountains
Where it is
Tongariro National Park lies in the centre of New Zealand's North Island, south of Lake Taupō, around three active volcanoes, Tongariro, Ngāuruhoe and Ruapehu, the highest point of the North Island at about 2,797 m.
History
The mountains are sacred to Ngāti Tūwharetoa, and in 1887 their paramount chief Te Heuheu Tukino IV gifted the peaks to the nation, leading to the creation of New Zealand's first national park. In 1993 it became the first site listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage cultural landscape, in addition to its listing for natural values.
People
Ngāti Tūwharetoa hold the mountains sacred as ancestors, and nearby communities such as National Park Village, Whakapapa and Ohakune live from tourism, skiing and farming; Ohakune is known for growing carrots. English and te reo Māori are spoken.
Known for
- The Tongariro Alpine Crossing
- The Emerald Lakes and Red Crater
- Mount Ngāuruhoe
- Skiing on Mount Ruapehu
- Taranaki Falls near Whakapapa
Did you know?
Mount Ngāuruhoe, the steep cone beside the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, stood in for Mount Doom in the Lord of the Rings films.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.