Tongariro Northern Circuit

Walk Overview

This walk is one of New Zealand’s nine “Great Walks” as designated by the New Zealand Government’s Department of Conservation (DOC). It is one of only three Great Walks on the North Island (one of which is actually a canoeing trip) and is the most accessible of the three.

The walk takes you into a dramatic, other worldly volcanic landscape. It features numerous geological wonders generated by volcanic activity including explosion craters, steam vents, hot mud pools, volcanic cones and landscape carved out by lava flows. These features, combined with the open and exposed terrain, give a slightly surreal feel; we sense we’re treading in an unusual place with adventure afoot.

The walk is a loop walk that is 46 km in length. It may be tackled in either direction and can be readily shortened. The track is well marked and sign-posted but some sections can be steep, rough or muddy. Most of the track is in alpine country with the track elevation ranging from 1,200 to 1,800 metres.

The Tongariro Northern Circuit is located in the Tongariro National Park, New Zealand’s oldest national park. The park was established in recognition of its dramatic volcanic landscapes. The park is a World Heritage Site due to both its natural volcanic features and its Maori cultural significance.

There are a number of Department of Conservation huts and campsites along the walk route, and road access at a few points, allowing for flexibility in walk planning and longer or shorter visits. Huts need to be booked and are busy from Christmas to the end of January.

Further information:

• A four day itinerary is described below.

• For more information on walking in the Tongariro National Park, click the button below.

Itinerary

The walk takes 3-4 days to complete. An itinerary completing the entire track is shown below.

Day 1

Whakapapa Village to Mangatepopo Hut

Distance: 9.4km

Time: 4 hours

Accommodation or Camping: Both available

Day 2

Mangatepopo Hut to Oturere Hut

Distance: 12km

Time: 5 hours

Accommodation or Camping: Both available

Day 3

Oturere Hut to Waihohonu Hut

Distance: 8.1km

Time: 3 hours

Accommodation or Camping: Both available

Walk Options

Guided

Several tour operators offer part or all of the Tongariro Northern Circuit as a guided trip. You can choose to do the entire 46 km walk or opt for shorter versions.

Most of the tour operators that offer the “full walk” actually offer a “three-quarters” version over three days, skipping Day 1 of the four day walking itinerary described above. If time constrained, that makes sense as Day 1 is a short day.

Accommodation options are confined to camping and DOC huts, unless the tour involves excerpts from the walk in which case accommodation in Whakapapa Village is provided. 

The tour operators offering the full (or three-quarters) version of the walk require walkers to carry packs with sleeping bags and personal clothing. Typically, that would mean a pack of 10 - 12 kg.

Typically, the package offered by these operators include:

• Transfers to and from Rotorua or Taupo

• 3 or 4 day tour with professional guides

• 2 or 3 nights accommodation

• All meals

• Transfers between the track and the accommodation (where applicable)

• National park entrance fees

Assisted self-guided

We are not currently aware of tour operators offering self-guided services for the Tongariro Northern Circuit, however there are several operators providing transport services for walkers in the area, so some assistance can be obtained through these operators.

Independent

Independent walkers have the choice of camping or using the DOC public huts. Regardless of your choice and no matter what time of the year you do the walk, you will need to book a hut or campsite for each night on the track ahead of starting.

If you are doing the walk between Christmas and the end of January, you will need to book the DOC huts a long way ahead; they book up very quickly. Note that the guided walk tours often have availability after the public spaces in the huts are fully taken.

The distribution of the huts and campsites has been planned to allow flexibility in trip planning and for the walk to be done at a more or less leisurely pace.

Essential Information

Access

The Tongariro Northern Circuit can be started and finished at several different points as it is a loop walk and accessible by road at a few spots. Most people start at Whakapapa Village because that is where the Visitor Centre is located and accommodation and provisions can be obtained. 

Driving time to Whakapapa Village is about 4 hours from Wellington, 2.5 hours from Rotorua and 1.5 hours from Taupo. 

Whakapapa Village is accessible via public transport services, although the services are not frequent. Buses or a combination of train and bus provide the services.

Once in the region, there are a number of private transport operators who can provide transport to and from the track for individuals and groups. Walking tour operators also provide access to the track as do certain accommodation providers.

Park entry

No entry permit is needed for access to Tongariro National Park but tickets must be obtained for use of the DOC huts and campsites on the Tongariro Northern Circuit. Tickets can be bought online and printed yourself or collected from the Tongariro National Park Visitor Centre at Whakapapa Village.

Best time

While the track can be walked year round, the best time to do the walk is during the “Great Walks Season” which is mid-October to the end of April. Outside the season, the winter environment in Tongariro National Park can be very challenging, with ice and snow at the higher levels. Also, facilities at the DOC huts are reduced (eg no gas for heating or cooking and limited water) and DOC rangers are not at the huts.

Difficulty

This walk is rated by the DOC as “Intermediate: Great Walk/Easier tramping track”.

Accommodation

In addition to the DOC huts described in ‘Walk Options’ above, there are several very good accommodation options at Whakapapa Village. Accommodation options range from camping, caravan park cottages and cabins through to four star hotels.

Some of the accommodation providers are attuned to walkers’ needs or offer amenities suited to walkers. 

We can assist walkers in choosing the accommodation options which best suit their needs.

Other activities

As a popular tourism destination, the Tongariro National Park region offers many attractions in addition to the Tongariro Northern Circuit. Many walkers choose to add extra days to their trip so that they can further explore the region. In particular, a canoeing trip on the nearby Whanganui River that runs through the heart of the Whanganui National Park is an amazing add-on. The “Whanganui Journey” is a canoeing trip that is actually one of New Zealand’s nine Great Walks and it is possible to do sections of it over one to four days. 

Assistance

We can assist walkers with various aspects of their walking holidays.