Tongariro Northern Circuit
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Information
Tongariro Northern Circuit
Time: 3 - 4 days
The Tongariro Northern Circuit starts at the beginning of the Tongariro Crossing, after the Emerald Lakes the walk takes you past Oturere Hut, on past the historic Waihohonu Hut, then back to Whakapapa Village via the Tama Saddle. This is an awesome walk to take in some really varied terrain and some of the best scenary in the area.
The walk is over largely exposed terrain and the weather can change very suddenly. Good clothing, shoes and wet weather gear is a must, no jeans - so for all you Euro's out there; leave your G Stars at home!
There is rain water at all the huts as well as gas, but you will need your own cooking gear. It is also a 'Great Walk' which means you need hut tickets before you depart.
Details
| Feature | Value | Info |
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Organisation |
DOC Central North IslandCentral government organisation |
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Location |
North Island ▷ Ruapehu ▷ Tongariro / National Park Village |
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Categories |
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Directions To Coordinates |
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Coordinates |
Walking
Nearby
Reviews
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4.5/5
Exactly as described!
When the weather is clear, it is mesmerising! Day 2, start early before the day tourists come! Huts are clean and nice rangers!
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4.5/5
Huts were great.
The trail was in fantastic condition. Hut wardens were extremely helpful and pleasant. DOC staff provided differing advice; some more risk averse than others. Views are impressive if you have a clear day. Online booking system is fantastic.
-
5.0/5
Although the weather was bad, wardens always informed us.
In the end we even got back money for one day!
-
4.0/5
The weather was very bad, so we had to quit it after one day.
We were always very well informed by the DOC ranger because of the bad weather.
FF![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(158,56,234)" /><path d="m 150 605 Q 267 33 -305 150 Q 267 267 150 -305 Q 33 267 605 150 Q 33 33 150 605 z" fill="rgb(165,148,243)" /><path d="m 150 429 Q 69 231 -129 150 Q 69 69 150 -129 Q 231 69 429 150 Q 231 231 150 429 z" fill="rgb(90,107,12)" /><path d="m 150 266 Q 93 207 34 150 Q 93 93 150 34 Q 207 93 266 150 Q 207 207 150 266 z" fill="rgb(97,199,21)" /></svg>)
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5.0/5
We made a day trip to the volcanic terrain.
The blue lakes and the view is awesome. But it gets cold at the top of the mountain.
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5.0/5
This is an amazing walk despite the fact that it rained pretty much non stop, we could still see the views.
Don't under estimate it, Its a lot harder than we expected it to be and we were expecting it to be hard. Be sure to keep checking the weather report cause it changes hourly, so does the bus shuttles decision to pick up or not. if theres high winds at Red Crater its not safe to cross. We almost missed this walk, due to weather reports and it was amazing.
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5.0/5
Rangers are sympathetic, wonderful landscapes, tent sites are affordable, DOC is efficient.
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4.5/5
Absolutely amazing.
Accommodation was good and the trail, while confusing at times, was mostly well maintained. Hut wardens were the bomb.
SK![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(21,199,90)" /><path d="m 150 684 Q 120 180 -384 150 Q 120 120 150 -384 Q 180 120 684 150 Q 180 180 150 684 z" fill="rgb(12,58,13)" /><path d="m 150 411 Q 217 83 -111 150 Q 217 217 150 -111 Q 83 217 411 150 Q 83 83 150 411 z" fill="rgb(243,197,242)" /><path d="m 150 256 Q 97 203 44 150 Q 97 97 150 44 Q 203 97 256 150 Q 203 203 150 256 z" fill="rgb(234,56,165)" /></svg>)
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5.0/5
Beautiful landscape, changing every day so you cannot get bored of it.
Never regretted doing this Great Walk.
B![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(158,130,208)" /><path d="m 150 752 Q 224 76 -452 150 Q 224 224 150 -452 Q 76 224 752 150 Q 76 76 150 752 z" fill="rgb(17,157,182)" /><path d="m 150 355 Q 191 109 -55 150 Q 191 191 150 -55 Q 109 191 355 150 Q 109 109 150 355 z" fill="rgb(238,98,73)" /><path d="m 150 223 Q 65 235 77 150 Q 65 65 150 77 Q 235 65 223 150 Q 235 235 150 223 z" fill="rgb(97,125,47)" /></svg>)
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5.0/5
So many different landscapes, difficult and exhausting but still possible to do for everybody.
Good huts and nice rangers.
J![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(51,184,71)" /><path d="m 150 656 Q 292 8 -356 150 Q 292 292 150 -356 Q 8 292 656 150 Q 8 8 150 656 z" fill="rgb(46,222,110)" /><path d="m 150 538 Q 225 75 -238 150 Q 225 225 150 -238 Q 75 225 538 150 Q 75 75 150 538 z" fill="rgb(209,33,145)" /><path d="m 150 138 Q 278 22 162 150 Q 278 278 150 162 Q 22 278 138 150 Q 22 22 150 138 z" fill="rgb(204,71,184)" /></svg>)
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5.0/5
It is one of the great walks and as such it leaves you breathless - because of the landscape and the hike itself.
The weather is very important as it can change quickly and leave you with no orientation. Pack a compass/map and be ready for slippery areas and river crossings. Effective walking time is 20 hours (good level of fitness), 3 to 4 days.
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5.0/5
Welcome to Mordor!
Definitely my best walk so far in New Zealand. With 8 hours per day, it can be done in two days and if you like volcanic atmospheres then this is for you. The National Park is just sublime!!
ML![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(17,146,245)" /><path d="m 150 637 Q 218 82 -337 150 Q 218 218 150 -337 Q 82 218 637 150 Q 82 82 150 637 z" fill="rgb(213,24,131)" /><path d="m 150 449 Q 251 49 -149 150 Q 251 251 150 -149 Q 49 251 449 150 Q 49 49 150 449 z" fill="rgb(42,231,124)" /><path d="m 150 286 Q 287 13 14 150 Q 287 287 150 14 Q 13 287 286 150 Q 13 13 150 286 z" fill="rgb(238,109,10)" /></svg>)
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3.0/5
Bad weather!
Not enough information about what to wear before you go to the top. I did not enjoy but it was good at the end. Happy to do it but just the once.
E![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(231,79,53)" /><path d="m 150 601 Q 168 132 -301 150 Q 168 168 150 -301 Q 132 168 601 150 Q 132 132 150 601 z" fill="rgb(78,207,64)" /><path d="m 150 517 Q 79 221 -217 150 Q 79 79 150 -217 Q 221 79 517 150 Q 221 221 150 517 z" fill="rgb(177,48,191)" /><path d="m 150 106 Q 241 59 194 150 Q 241 241 150 194 Q 59 241 106 150 Q 59 59 150 106 z" fill="rgb(24,176,202)" /></svg>)
![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(198,29,96)" /><path d="m 150 523 Q 146 154 -223 150 Q 146 146 150 -223 Q 154 146 523 150 Q 154 154 150 523 z" fill="rgb(164,7,87)" /><path d="m 150 360 Q 221 79 -60 150 Q 221 221 150 -60 Q 79 221 360 150 Q 79 79 150 360 z" fill="rgb(91,248,168)" /><path d="m 150 197 Q 123 177 103 150 Q 123 123 150 103 Q 177 123 197 150 Q 177 177 150 197 z" fill="rgb(57,226,159)" /></svg>)
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![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(0,111,202)" /><path d="m 150 629 Q 61 239 -329 150 Q 61 61 150 -329 Q 239 61 629 150 Q 239 239 150 629 z" fill="rgb(254,199,243)" /><path d="m 150 346 Q 159 141 -46 150 Q 159 159 150 -46 Q 141 159 346 150 Q 141 141 150 346 z" fill="rgb(1,56,12)" /><path d="m 150 219 Q 66 234 81 150 Q 66 66 150 81 Q 234 66 219 150 Q 234 234 150 219 z" fill="rgb(255,144,53)" /></svg>)
![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(122,77,81)" /><path d="m 150 659 Q 58 242 -359 150 Q 58 58 150 -359 Q 242 58 659 150 Q 242 242 150 659 z" fill="rgb(37,22,190)" /><path d="m 150 367 Q 290 10 -67 150 Q 290 290 150 -67 Q 10 290 367 150 Q 10 10 150 367 z" fill="rgb(218,233,65)" /><path d="m 150 290 Q 105 195 10 150 Q 105 105 150 10 Q 195 105 290 150 Q 195 195 150 290 z" fill="rgb(133,178,174)" /></svg>)
![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(26,233,35)" /><path d="m 150 525 Q 244 56 -225 150 Q 244 244 150 -225 Q 56 244 525 150 Q 56 56 150 525 z" fill="rgb(8,136,28)" /><path d="m 150 447 Q 274 26 -147 150 Q 274 274 150 -147 Q 26 274 447 150 Q 26 26 150 447 z" fill="rgb(247,119,227)" /><path d="m 150 144 Q 289 11 156 150 Q 289 289 150 156 Q 11 289 144 150 Q 11 11 150 144 z" fill="rgb(229,22,220)" /></svg>)
![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(191,158,205)" /><path d="m 150 629 Q 208 92 -329 150 Q 208 208 150 -329 Q 92 208 629 150 Q 92 92 150 629 z" fill="rgb(39,243,47)" /><path d="m 150 439 Q 64 236 -139 150 Q 64 64 150 -139 Q 236 64 439 150 Q 236 236 150 439 z" fill="rgb(216,12,208)" /><path d="m 150 174 Q 260 40 126 150 Q 260 260 150 126 Q 40 260 174 150 Q 40 40 150 174 z" fill="rgb(64,97,50)" /></svg>)
![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(109,254,146)" /><path d="m 150 643 Q 51 249 -343 150 Q 51 51 150 -343 Q 249 51 643 150 Q 249 249 150 643 z" fill="rgb(157,174,84)" /><path d="m 150 416 Q 284 16 -116 150 Q 284 284 150 -116 Q 16 284 416 150 Q 16 16 150 416 z" fill="rgb(98,81,171)" /><path d="m 150 131 Q 279 21 169 150 Q 279 279 150 169 Q 21 279 131 150 Q 21 21 150 131 z" fill="rgb(146,1,109)" /></svg>)
![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(122,160,2)" /><path d="m 150 581 Q 82 218 -281 150 Q 82 82 150 -281 Q 218 82 581 150 Q 218 218 150 581 z" fill="rgb(41,147,74)" /><path d="m 150 485 Q 85 215 -185 150 Q 85 85 150 -185 Q 215 85 485 150 Q 215 215 150 485 z" fill="rgb(214,108,181)" /><path d="m 150 274 Q 243 57 26 150 Q 243 243 150 26 Q 57 243 274 150 Q 57 57 150 274 z" fill="rgb(133,95,253)" /></svg>)
![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(53,93,248)" /><path d="m 150 718 Q 62 238 -418 150 Q 62 62 150 -418 Q 238 62 718 150 Q 238 238 150 718 z" fill="rgb(64,36,197)" /><path d="m 150 321 Q 51 249 -21 150 Q 51 51 150 -21 Q 249 51 321 150 Q 249 249 150 321 z" fill="rgb(191,219,58)" /><path d="m 150 209 Q 72 228 91 150 Q 72 72 150 91 Q 228 72 209 150 Q 228 228 150 209 z" fill="rgb(202,162,7)" /></svg>)
![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(50,251,12)" /><path d="m 150 578 Q 106 194 -278 150 Q 106 106 150 -278 Q 194 106 578 150 Q 194 194 150 578 z" fill="rgb(127,118,140)" /><path d="m 150 543 Q 208 92 -243 150 Q 208 208 150 -243 Q 92 208 543 150 Q 92 92 150 543 z" fill="rgb(128,137,115)" /><path d="m 150 294 Q 275 25 6 150 Q 275 275 150 6 Q 25 275 294 150 Q 25 25 150 294 z" fill="rgb(205,4,243)" /></svg>)
![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(123,182,24)" /><path d="m 150 686 Q 294 6 -386 150 Q 294 294 150 -386 Q 6 294 686 150 Q 6 6 150 686 z" fill="rgb(109,1,171)" /><path d="m 150 501 Q 98 202 -201 150 Q 98 98 150 -201 Q 202 98 501 150 Q 202 202 150 501 z" fill="rgb(146,254,84)" /><path d="m 150 123 Q 182 118 177 150 Q 182 182 150 177 Q 118 182 123 150 Q 118 118 150 123 z" fill="rgb(132,73,231)" /></svg>)
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4.5/5
Exactly as described!
When the weather is clear, it is mesmerising! Day 2, start early before the day tourists come! Huts are clean and nice rangers!
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-
-
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4.5/5
Huts were great.
The trail was in fantastic condition. Hut wardens were extremely helpful and pleasant. DOC staff provided differing advice; some more risk averse than others. Views are impressive if you have a clear day. Online booking system is fantastic.
-
5.0/5
We made a day trip to the volcanic terrain.
The blue lakes and the view is awesome. But it gets cold at the top of the mountain.
-
5.0/5
Although the weather was bad, wardens always informed us.
In the end we even got back money for one day!
-
4.0/5
The weather was very bad, so we had to quit it after one day.
We were always very well informed by the DOC ranger because of the bad weather.
FF -
5.0/5
Rangers are sympathetic, wonderful landscapes, tent sites are affordable, DOC is efficient.
-
5.0/5
This is an amazing walk despite the fact that it rained pretty much non stop, we could still see the views.
Don't under estimate it, Its a lot harder than we expected it to be and we were expecting it to be hard. Be sure to keep checking the weather report cause it changes hourly, so does the bus shuttles decision to pick up or not. if theres high winds at Red Crater its not safe to cross. We almost missed this walk, due to weather reports and it was amazing.
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4.5/5
Absolutely amazing.
Accommodation was good and the trail, while confusing at times, was mostly well maintained. Hut wardens were the bomb.
SK -
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5.0/5
Beautiful landscape, changing every day so you cannot get bored of it.
Never regretted doing this Great Walk.
B -
5.0/5
So many different landscapes, difficult and exhausting but still possible to do for everybody.
Good huts and nice rangers.
J -
5.0/5
It is one of the great walks and as such it leaves you breathless - because of the landscape and the hike itself.
The weather is very important as it can change quickly and leave you with no orientation. Pack a compass/map and be ready for slippery areas and river crossings. Effective walking time is 20 hours (good level of fitness), 3 to 4 days.
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5.0/5
Welcome to Mordor!
Definitely my best walk so far in New Zealand. With 8 hours per day, it can be done in two days and if you like volcanic atmospheres then this is for you. The National Park is just sublime!!
ML -
3.0/5
Bad weather!
Not enough information about what to wear before you go to the top. I did not enjoy but it was good at the end. Happy to do it but just the once.
E -
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5.0/5
On our first Great Walk we had a unique view over the Red Crater and Emerald Lakes.
We also made the short trip to the incredible blue 'Blue Lake'.
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5.0/5
Incredible, beautiful landscape!
Everyone keeps discussing, if it is enough to do the Alpine Crossing or if one should go for the Great Walk. My opinion, if you have the time, go for the Great Walk!
T![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(27,218,200)" /><path d="m 150 632 Q 112 188 -332 150 Q 112 112 150 -332 Q 188 112 632 150 Q 188 188 150 632 z" fill="rgb(191,120,208)" /><path d="m 150 327 Q 84 216 -27 150 Q 84 84 150 -27 Q 216 84 327 150 Q 216 216 150 327 z" fill="rgb(64,135,47)" /><path d="m 150 187 Q 240 60 113 150 Q 240 240 150 113 Q 60 240 187 150 Q 60 60 150 187 z" fill="rgb(228,37,55)" /></svg>)
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