The Tongariro Crossing is one of the biggest and best day hikes in New Zealand.
These Mars-like volcanic peaks and smoking craters may not be the first thing you had in mind for your trip to NZ, but the epic factor on this hike is off the charts.
If these apocalyptic landscapes look like something right out of ‘Mordor’ in the Lord of the Rings movies, that’s because all of those scenes were filmed here!
Definitely try to fit this hike into your New Zealand itinerary! This travel guide will explain how to get there, and everything you need to know before you go!
Where Is Tongariro?
Tongariro National Park is located on the North Island of New Zealand.
The nearest town is Turangi, which is about a 20 minute drive from the park, or a 4 hour drive from Auckland or Wellington.
History & Culture
The mountains of Tongariro are considered sacred in the local Maori culture, and it became New Zealand’s first national park in 1894.
In the 1990s, the park was recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site because of its outstanding natural and cultural value.
More recently, one of the big volcanic peaks in the park (Mount Ngauruhoe), was used as the filming location for Mount Doom in the famous ‘Lord of the Rings’ movies.
Nowadays, the trail is hiked by more than 150,000 people per year!
What To Expect: Tongariro Crossing
The Tongariro Crossing is a difficult point-to-point hike that takes most of a day to complete.
You’ll hike through an active volcanic area with smoking heat vents, petrified lava rocks, and giant volcanic craters. The last significant eruption was in 2012. Of course, volcanic activity here is constantly monitored, but there’s no safety guarantee.
Don’t let any of this put you off, because it’s probably one of the coolest hikes in the world! That’s also why it does get a little crowded, especially on weekends.
We did the crossing on a cool summer day and it wasn’t as hard as we expected. Ok, there were a couple moments where we felt like Frodo and Sam trudging wearily through Mordor, but it was manageable and behind every hill we climbed was a rewarding new view.
Just come prepared. Bring lots of water and a jacket for the top of the mountain. Toilets are conveniently placed every 1-2 hours along the trail.
