The Tongariro volcano 
is undoubtedly the most memorable trip I’ve had on New Zealand’s North Island. The 19.4km Tongariro Alpine Crossing hike is not too difficult, but it’s also not so easy that everyone can complete it — this kind of hike with a little challenge is the perfect route for many people!
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Throughout the journey, you can see the perfectly shaped Ngauruhoe cone volcano, the colorful and alien-like volcanic chimneys, the mystically colored summit lakes, the desolate and Mars-like terrain of weathered gravel, the geothermal activity spewing white smoke, and the real evidence left by volcanic eruptions.
.. and more. Completing all these wonders in one hike is simply perfect.
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Let me talk about our itinerary:
5:15 Wake up at the campsite, have breakfast
6:15 Drive to the starting point
7:15 Arrive at the starting point, I drop off the rest of the group, and I drive alone to the end point
7:45 I arrive at the parking lot at the end point
8:30 Board the shuttle bus from the end point to the starting point
9:00 I meet up with my friends at the starting point, and we begin the hike
18:00 Complete the entire hike and return to our car
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Shuttle Bus:
1. Because it’s not a loop, you need to book the shuttle bus in advance. The official website charges $55 for a round trip, $60 for a one-way (outrageous!), and requires a minimum of two people (outrageous!). To save money, we booked a one-way ticket for $60 per person on the Tongariroexpeditions website.
2. There are many third-party shuttle bus companies. They usually pick you up from the Ketetahi car park at the end and take you to the Mangatepopo starting point. Make sure you know which company you booked with, so you don’t miss the bus.
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[得意R] Important Notes:
[一R] We did the hike in early January, and although it was summer, the temperature was not high, especially for those waiting at the starting point in the morning; wearing a thick jacket would not be excessive!
[二R] It’s recommended to wear a layerable waterproof jacket, so you can add layers when it’s cold in the morning and remove them when it gets hot at noon.
[三R] Each person should bring a large 1.5L bottle of water, as there’s no place to get water along the way.
[四R] The official time to complete the hike is 6-8 hours, but because we had lunch, took lots of photos, and had some less fit women in the group, it took us 9 hours [捂脸R]
[五R] There is a pit toilet available every 1-2 hours
[六R] The descent is really boring, the highlights are all in the ascent part
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@Tourism New Zealand @Traveling Potato
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