Discover My Passion: Tongariro Alpine Crossing Hike Adventure

✅Tongariro Alpine Crossing 20.2KM (one way) starts at an elevation of 1100 meters, reaches a maximum elevation of 1886 meters, and takes 6-9 hours.

🌋In 1887, Tongariro National Park became New Zealand’s first national park, home to three active volcanoes: Ruapehu, Ngauruhoe, and Tongariro. This is also the filming location for Mount Doom in The Lord of the Rings. The Tongariro Northern Circuit is one of New Zealand’s nine Great Walks, 4 days and 41 kilometers long, and this one-day mountain crossing trail captures its essence.

⬇️Here’s a brief summary:

😊0-5km, Mangatepopo Car Park-Soda Springs, mostly flat trails, I’d call it the happy hour.

😩5-8km, Soda Springs-Red Crater, the climb increases, entering hard mode.

😫8-10km, Red Crater-Emerald Lake, another ascent, very challenging for the heart and lungs, with a slippery gravel path. After the Red Crater, there’s a steep descent, really slippery, be careful.

😊10-11km, Emerald Lake-Blue Lake, the path from Emerald Lake to Blue Lake is mostly flat.

🥱11-16km, Blue Lake-Ketetahi Shelter, continuous gentle downhill, winding and turning, can get visually tiring after a while. You can speed up your pace here.

😩16-20km, Ketetahi Shelter-Ketetahi Car Park, constantly going through the forest, the small stream at the end gives a warm applause to those who have completed the journey.

👟Gear: Quick-dry clothes, fleece/light down jacket, waterproof jacket, hiking boots/trail running shoes. In summer, pants are optional; I wore hiking shorts and compression socks.

🧢Items: Hydration bladder, trekking poles, sun hat, sunscreen, garbage bag. Raincoat and gloves as needed.

🍗Supplies: Energy gels, salt tablets, sports drinks, food.

📌Bring all your water and food.

📌Shuttle bus tips: Drive to the endpoint, Ketetahi Car Park (only four hours free), so we parked on the roadside and then took the shuttle back to the starting point to begin the hike. Our shuttle was Tongariro Expeditions, bookable on Google Maps, and you will receive a pick-up location link after booking.

📌The route is well-established and friendly. Scan the code at the entrance to register, and those who booked the shuttle will receive an entry registration email in advance.