The Crossing is a one way route not a circular route. Adrift Tongariro made the logistics very easy and provided a great guide. Tours - One of the easiest ways to experience the Tongariro Alpine Crossing and the rest of North Island is by joining a tour from Auckland. Most visitors arrive in New Zealand via Auckland and then travel by road to reach the Tongariro Crossing, you can join a tour from Auckland, hire a car, rent a campervan, get on a bus or catch a train to make your way south. Daily national bus services are available to and from Ohakune, Taumarunui, National Park, Whakapapa Village and Tūrangi. Accommodation Transport for the Tongariro Crossing Round Trips for Your Accommodation to the Tongariro Crossing. It normally takes about 2.5 to 3.5 hours to reach this point. Taking on the Tongariro Alpine Crossing in winter can be a very enjoyable and memorable alpine experience if you are prepared. People can take longer depending on how many stops they have. It is easily accessed by road, and is only a 4-5 hour drive from either Auckland or Wellington. Here are the two options available to you. The crossing itself is quite simple with 3 - 4 steep climbs and it can be done in 6 - 8 hrs from start to end. Am I fit enough to hike it? Shuttle buses meet the national buses and trains at National Park Village and Ohakune. Rome2rio makes travelling from Auckland to Tongariro National Park easy. Things to Know Before Hiking the Tongariro Crossing. Great time to visit the Tongariro Alpine Crossing now. Book a shuttle service to get to and from the trail. My cousin and I drove down from Rotorua at the end of high season in April and managed to catch a perfect day. The Tongariro National Park is rich in both cultural identity and dramatic, awe-inspiring natural scenery. I think you get more out of the experience if you have someone explaining what you are looking at. Right on State highway 1 with a population of a few thousand the town has everything you need and several places to stay and eat. Allow 9 hours to complete the walk. The usual direction starts from Mangatepopo car park and ends at Ketetahi car park. The train runs three days per week going south and three days per week going north. The Tongariro Crossing starts at Mangetepopo, a 15-minute drive from The Park Hotel. The Tongariro Alpine Crossing. Things to Know Before Hiking the Tongariro Crossing The crossing itself is quite simple with 3 - 4 steep climbs and it can be done in 6 - 8 hrs from start to end. Please note that the carpark operation is seasonal and weather dependent, so be sure to check with them closer to the time, bookings are essential – see the different options for shuttles. There are between 9 and 11 hours of daylight in winter, so leave early enough to complete the trip before it gets dark. Check out a 3-day Tongariro Trekker tour from Auckland! Most accommodation arranges one drop off service in the morning and multiple pick up services in the afternoon. Check out the local National Park Village accommodation page for different options in the village and nearby areas. The easiest way to get to and from the Tongariro Crossing is to take a return shuttle organised by your accommodation. This small town is surrounded by native bush and tussock and has plenty to offer with nearby mountain biking, an indoor climbing wall, and a small supermarket. What boots or shoes should I wear for the Tongariro Crossing? As well as shorter if they take fewer breaks and don’t stop for lunch. Site by, Check out the 3-day Tongariro Trekker tour, Skotel (a good mid-range and backpacker option), local National Park Village accommodation page. All you need to know about the Tongariro Alpine Crossing. How to get to the Tongariro National Park Most visitors arrive in New Zealand via Auckland and then travel by road to reach the Tongariro Crossing, you can join a tour from Auckland, hire a car, rent a campervan, get on a bus or catch a train to make your way south. Round Trip Tongariro Crossing Shuttle from National Park cancellation policy: For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience. National Park Village• Driving time from Auckland: 3h50m – 4h30m• Driving time to start of the Crossing: 25 minutesNational Park Village is right on state highway 4 and easily accessible by bus and train, while still being close to the start of the Tongariro Alpine Crossing. A variety of shuttle bus services are available to Whakapapa Village and hiking tracks from the nearby towns. Located right on the shore of New 'Zealand's largest lake, Lake Taupo, it has dozens of great activities, places to stay and dining options on offer, the local website provides a great directory. Tongariro Crossing Shuttles. Transport to Tongariro Crossing – getting there and back. After passing Blue Lake, also known as Te Wai-whakaata-o-te-Rangihiroa (Rangihiroa’s mirror), the track sidles around the northern slope of Tongariro, then descends in a zigzag track past Ketetahi Shelter and down to the road end at 760m. Start of the Tonagriro Alpine Crossing: Mangatepopo CarparkEnd of the Tongariro Alpine Crossing: Ketetahi Carpark. Train - The Northern Explorer train travels between Auckland and Wellington with stops at both National Park Village and Ohakune. • How hard is the Tongariro Crossing? and als… Have a look at the official local website to explore the different accommodation options.Ohakune• Driving time from Auckland: 4h20m – 5h• Driving time to start of the Crossing: 45 minutesOhakune is located on the southern edge of the Tongariro National Park (the Tongariro Crossing is near the northern end), so it takes a little longer to get here from Auckland and longer to get to the start of the Crossing but can be well worth it. We started at the Mangatepopo car park and ended at the Ketetahi car park. The main trunk railway between Auckland and Wellington passes through National Park Village and Ohakune. Use a shuttle. Biodiversity inventory and monitoring toolbox, Auckland to Whakapapa: 340 km, 4 hr 30 min - 5 hr, Wellington to Whakapapa: 330 km, 4 hr 30 min - 5 hr, Rotorua to Whakapapa: 180 km, 2 hr - 2 hr 30 min, Taumarunui to Tongariro National Park: 63.6 km, 51 min. Soda springs is a 5 to 10 minute detour from the main trail of the Tongariro Crossing That later gives way to an uneven desert landscape. We can also collect from various spots on the way, such as the Mangahuia DoC camp ground if required. If you complete that, you will do fine when you have the extra adrenaline (and fantastic views hopefully) on the day :-) A moderate to good level of fitness is required. It will take between 6-9 hours to complete the hike, which doesn’t include the time spent getting to … HIKING THE TONGARIRO ALPINE CROSSING WITH KIDS. Taupo• Driving time from Auckland: 3h10m – 4h• Driving time to start of the Crossing: 1h20m Taupo is the furthest away from the start of the Tongariro Crossing but can be reached by sticking to State Highway 1 all the way from Auckland, it's also the largest town in the region and very central to surrounding locations like Rotorua, Hobbiton and the Tongariro National Park. The walk ends at Ketetahi, a 25-minute drive from The Park Hotel. The pretty town of Ohakune is the southern entrance to the park, and to Turoa ski field. Along the trail, you have the option to climb 2 mountains, Mt Ngauruhoe (hard) which will take an extra 3 hours, and Mt Tongariro (moderate) which will add 1 hour extra. The walk is well-marked from the beginning so trekkers find it easy to navigate the whole way through. Two – Park at the end of the Tongariro Crossing in the morning and then catch a shuttle to the start to begin hiking.This is a popular option as it allows you to finish the hike and then continue on to your next destination without having to wait for a shuttle and gives you the option of storing the luggage you don't take on the Crossing in your car while hiking. Three – Catch a shuttle from your accommodation to the start of the hike, then a return shuttle at the end of the hike.The other option is to catch a shuttle to the start, and from the end of the Crossing once you are finished, some accommodation operators will provide a shuttle and there are many licensed operators in the area to choose from. Find all the transport options for your trip from Auckland to Tongariro National Park right here. Check out our other blog posts about the Crossing! For less time climbing, start from the Mangatepopo car park and end at Ketetahi. Department of Conservation | Te Papa Atawhai, https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/central-north-island/places/tongariro-national-park/getting-there/. The summit of Red crater is the highest point of the Alpine Crossing (1886 metres / 6187 feet). How to prepare for the Crossing and what to pack. Since it is a point to point hike, transportation to the start or the finish of the hike will need to be arranged. There are two different options for hiking the Tongariro Crossing – you can either start at Mangatepopo car park and end at Ketetahi car park or do it in reverse, starting at Ketetahi and ending at Mangatepopo. The small village of Whakapapa is located within the park. Broadwalks are prevalent throughout the start of the Tongariro Alpine Crossing trail in Tongariro National Park You will pass by Soda Springs. What time of year is best to hike the Tongariro Alpine Crossing? I hope you find this resource useful if you’re planning to do the Tongariro Crossing in winter. By road - It usually takes around four hours (without stops) to reach the Tongariro National Park from both Auckland and Wellington, there are several nearby towns and places to stay, read below for more info! It’s the most famous day hike in New Zealand, and it allows you to experience the best of the Tongariro National Park. It is easily accessed by road, and is only a 4-5 hour drive from either Auckland or Wellington. Tongariro Alpine Crossing. The crossing is a linear journey, starting on the west side of Mount Tongariro and finishing on the north side. From your base in either Ohakune, Turangi or Whakapapa Village you can book a shuttle which will collect you from your accommodation, ferry you to the start of the track and pick you up once you’ve completed the crossing. Sun, warmish down the bottom and no snow on Tongariro. There are side trip options for keen and fit hikers to the summits of both Ngauruhoe and Tongariro. The small village of Whakapapa is located within the park. The landscape is awe-inspiring and the feeling of accomplishment is a hard one to beat. It is a 19.4km walk which starts with a staged climb to Red Crater. • The Iconic Chateau Tongariro• Skotel (a good mid-range and backpacker option)• Whakapapa Holiday Park (tent sites, camper vans, backpacker and private cabin accommodations). Planning to hike the Tongariro Crossing involves a lot, this post has all the info you need on how to get to the Tongariro National Park, places to stay and how to organize tours or transport for the Crossing itself. Many people choose this option as it is a hassle-free way to hike the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, not only will you have an experienced local guide, but you can choose a tour that explores other regions of the North Island at the same time. • What is the Tongariro Alpine Crossing• What is the weather like on the Crossing and when is the best time to hike it?• How to prepare for the Crossing and what to pack• What boots or shoes should I wear for the Tongariro Crossing?• How hard is the Tongariro Crossing? For local information, see the Visit Ruapehu website and the National Park Village website. The Tongariro National Park, in the center of New Zealand’s North Island, is the oldest national park in the country, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.The Tongariro Alpine Crossing, which traverses part of the park, is one of the most popular day hikes in the country. Check out a 3-day Tongariro Trekker tour from Auckland! We offer 5 departures daily to the Tongariro Alpine Crossing. One end of the Tongariro Crossing is at the Mangatepopo car park on the west side of the mountains and the other end is at Ketetahi car park, north of the mountains. • Driving time from Auckland: 4h10m – 4h40m • Driving time to start of the Crossing: 20 minutes Whakapapa Village is nestled against the base of Mount Ruapehu, the North Islands tallest mountain, surrounded by beautiful beech forests and offered some fantastic short walks and a gateway to Whakapapa ski field, it's also the closest township to the start of the Tongariro Crossing, so you only have a quick trip to the beginning of the hike. As a result, returning to the western end requires, retracing the 19.4 km crossing, walking 26 km via State Highways 46 and 47 back to the other trailhead, or completing the Tongariro Northern Circuit.. Descending to the Emerald Lakes, Tongariro Alpine Crossing, Tongariro National Park is in the central North Island of New Zealand, Mangatepopo Carpark, start of the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, Copyright 2017 Sole Ventures. Tip: if you are looking for a travel buddy to walk the Tongariro Crossing with, join a group shuttle with your hostel or post a short request on one of the New Zealand Backpackers groups on Facebook if someone wants to join. Check out the 3-day Tongariro Trekker tour that includes the Waitomo Caves, Tongariro Crossing, Taupo, Huka Falls, Hot pools and more! The closest airport is in Taupo and daily flights are available. Getting to the beginning of the hike has changed a bit in recent years, as there is a four-hour parking limit between Labour Weekend (October) and the 30th April in the DOC carparks at both Mangatepopo and Ketetahi. Discover and book Round Trip Tongariro Crossing Shuttle from National Park on Tripadvisor. All rights reserved. The Tongariro Alpine Crossing is a 19.4 kilometre hike, with a grading of difficult. The Tongariro Crossing is 19kms and an 800m climb if you start from the Mangatepopo end. New Zealand's oldest national park and a dual World Heritage Site. Tongariro Alpine Crossing: winter brochure (PDF, 1,969K) Prepare for a long, challenging day. Often described as the best one day hike in New Zealand, the Tongariro Alpine Crossing provides an opportunity to experience some of the most scenic and active volcanic areas of the park. They picked us up from our hostel in Taupo at 5:15 am to make the hour and a half drive to the start of the Crossing. Rome2rio is a door-to-door travel information and booking engine, helping you get to and from any location in the world. The true answer is fit enough. It is estimated to take between six and eight hours. I would build up to a day walk of 14 or 15kms and 400 - 600m climb in preparation. There are several accommodation options available in National Park Village, so it's best to have a browse and decide for yourself! I booked a transfer with Tongariro Expeditions. Shuttles depart from 6 stops in National Park Village, including the new transport hub at the railway station. The most popular route is Mangatepopo to Ketetahi, and this is exactly the route I’d recommend you do! Since the Tongariro Alpine Crossing is a one way track, you will need some sort of shuttle to make the logistics work. There are also sightseeing flights available from Taupo, Tūrangi and Mt Ruapehu airstrips. Whakapapa Village is the main gateway into the park, and to Whakapapa ski field. The nearest towns are Taumarunui, National Park Village, Ohakune and Tūrangi. It's essential to book a shuttle, and you will have to estimate what afternoon shuttle you'd like to catch based on how long you think the Crossing will take you. Tongariro National Park is located in the central North Island. So, The Main Event, The Tongariro Crossing, New Zealand The Tongariro Crossing is classified as an Alpine Crossing. Buses - There are a few different options for buses to the Tongariro National Park area, the most direct is catching the Auckland to Palmerston North bus which passes directly through National Park Village and Ohakune. Tongariro National Park is located in the central North Island. – The Tongariro Crossing is a one way hike. There is now a new shuttle car park at the end of the Crossing on Ketetahi Road, multiple companies offer parking and shuttles to the start of the Crossing from here. For a private guided walk to Tongariro Crossing you should expect a completely different price level. How to Get to the Tongariro Crossing You have to wake up extremely early to get to the Tongariro Crossing before the heat of the day. 40NZD drop off at the Tongariro Crossing and pick up. You will need to use a shuttle bus at least one way, even if you do have a car. … The Tongariro Alpine Crossing is challenging in winter but I can honestly say that it’s one of my favourite walking trails to date. This is designed so you cannot leave a car parked while you hike the Crossing and must catch a shuttle to do the Tongariro Crossing, there are three main ways to go about this: One – Join a tour that includes a guided hike of the Tongariro Alpine CrossingThis can be one of the best ways to enjoy the Crossing, some multi-day tours from Auckland include everything, accommodation, transport, meals, guides, other activities, and more. Route, Map, Transport, Shuttle, What to take and wear to plan your trip. – You should set aside a whole day to hike the Tongariro crossing. But have a read below of places to stay and then have a look at the bus timetables to make a decision, the InterCity website is an excellent place to start. Find out how to get to Tongariro National Park. It is a one way hike, which means transport needs to be arranged to the start and from the finish of the hike. Along the trail, you have the option to climb 2 mountains, Mt Ngauruhoe (hard) which will take an extra 3 hours, and Mt Tongariro (moderate) which will add 1 hour extra. What is the weather like on the Crossing and when is the best time to hike it? How fit do I have to be? The track winds up the Mangatepopo Valley to the saddle between Tongariro and Ngauruhoe. Things to Know About the Tongariro Alpine Crossing It is a 19.4 km hike from start to finish. Quite a few children were walking the trail (overheard toward the end, "Dad, I'm never going for a walk with you again."Ha!) Am I fit enough to hike it. The nearest towns are Taumarunui, National Park Village, Ohakune and Tūrangi. That means it’s a relatively high elevation and seriously prone to extreme weather, i.e alpine conditions. This is how we met Alex from Sweden, Alina from Germany and Anna from Poland! Instead of a long line of tourists all we had on the mountain was our group of five and we saw 2 other hikers. Tongariro Alpine Crossing – this is the biggie, this is what they talk about as one of the best one day walks in the world. Tongariro crossing distance is 19.4 km one way but even longer if you have to walk the extra 1 km to your car at the end of the track. Allow between 6 – 8 hours to hike the crossing. To make the most of your visit you will need to take some form of transport and Tongariro Crossing Shuttles (TCS) offer the most comprehensive shuttle services from National Park Village to the National Park itself. It is on the western side of the park, on State Highway 48. Turangi• Driving time from Auckland: 3h50m – 4h30m• Driving time to start of the Crossing: 40 minutesTurangi is situated between the Tongariro National Park and Lake Taupo so it can make for a great staging point if you are doing a few different activities in the area, in particular, it is also a popular destination for trout fishing with many fantastic fishing spots nearby. Getting to the track The track is a one way 19.4km hike that takes 7–8 hours (allow for a full day). have the clothing for sub-zero temperatures and be able to survive if the weather get worse. This bustling little tourist town is well set up for visitors and is the gateway to the Turoa ski field, the Old Coach Road and has some great restaurants, bars, and accommodation options, visit the Ruapehu website to check out the different options. There are a number of shuttle services that can pick you up at your accommodation doorstep (or close) and transport you to the Mangatepopo end of the hike, pick you up at the Ketetahi Car Park at the end of the walk, then transport you back to your accommodation. A lot of people were undertaking the 19.4km (12+ mile) walk so conversations, huffing and a lot of puffing floated around on the thin alpine air. Self-transportation is no longer available as you can only park at the Ketetahi Carpark for a maximum of 4 hours. Get to Mangatepopo car park take Mangatepopo Road off State Highway 47 for 7km to the car park. State highways surround the park and lead to key access points. Park and lead to key access points and what to take between six and hours. Website and the feeling of accomplishment is a one way 19.4km hike that takes 7–8 (. Price level Taupo, Tūrangi and Mt Ruapehu airstrips way, such as the Mangahuia DoC ground. 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