Tongariro Crossing

Your travel itinerary

Track overview

Mangatepopo Valley- Soda Springs Grade: Easy - 1 / 1.5 Hours

Beginning at Mangatepopo Valley The track follows a stream and the edges of old lava flows towards the valley head. Look out for varying patches of vegetation that reveal the age of the surrounding lava rock.

Soda Springs - South Crater Grade: Moderate – Difficult – 40/60 Minutes 

At the head of the valley, the trail becomes steeper, climbing from the valley to Mangatepopo Saddle between the mountains of Ngauruhoe and Tongariro. Stunning panoramic views look out over the volcanic terrain. On a clear day, you can see as far as Mount Taranaki.

South Crater - Red Crater Grade: Moderate – Difficult -1 Hour

The trail leads from South Crater upwards towards Red Crater, the highest point of the Tongariro Alpine Crossing. The smell of sulphur is a reminder that this crater is still active. 

Red Crater - Emerald Lakes Grade: Moderate - 30 Minutes

From here you begin the descent, past the stunning Emerald Lakes. This is the highlight of the track and a great place to pause for photos. The brilliant colour that gives them their name is caused by minerals leaching from the surrounding thermal environment.

Emerald Lakes - Ketetahi Shelter Grade: Moderate - 1 Hour

The trail continues over Central Crater to the old volcanic vent of Blue Lake, before it rounds the flanks of North Crater and descends to Ketetahi.

Ketetahi Shelter - Road  Grade: Moderate - 2 Hours

The final section through private land is a long descent through tussock slopes to cool green forest, a refreshing change to the volcanic landscape.

A coach transfer returns you to the Chateau for a reminisence dinner

Inclusions

· Return Northern Explorer Train

· Three nights Chateau Tongariro

· Cooked breakfast daily

· Lunch on the train Day 1

· Packed lunch on Tongariro crossing day

· Dinner each evening

· Pukekohe Travel escort subject to 15 persons travelling

Cost

*This is a cash or cheque price. Credit cards will incur a 2% fee
*Itinerary and costs subject to change, airline and fuel charges and currency fluctuations prior to final payment

Exclusions

• Items of a personal nature

• Optional Cancellation Insurance 

Booking Conditions

• A non-refundable deposit of $200 per person will secure a place on this trip

• Final payment to be made by 15 January 2021

• Final payment – non-refundable

Travel Insurance

• We strongly advise all participants to take out suitable travel insurance to cover cancellation costs. 

• Please ask for a quote

General Information

Tongariro Geology

The Tongariro land mass was formed by a multitude of eruptions from at least six different cones which all share the same alignment. The oldest lava started flowing about 275,000 years ago, near what is now the Tama Lakes on the southern flanks of Mt Ngauruhoe. The eruptions continued for the next 200,000 years until the Ice Age. As the ice retreated, it carved out valleys clearly visible in the lower Mangatepopo and Oturere valleys.Red Crater and Mt Ngauruhoe are the most recently formed features on the Tongariro Alpine Crossing.Red Crater was formed about 3000 years ago. It lies within a scoria cone which rests on top of the older Tongariro lava flows. The red colour is due to the presence of oxidised iron in the rock.The most recent confirmed volcanic activity from Red Crater was reported between 1855 and 1890. The dike on the Southern Wall has been exposed by erosion. Lava would have flowed through this dike and poured into the Oturere Valley. Mt Ngauruhoe is the youngest volcano in the area having begun to form about 2,500 years ago.

Health and Fitness

• To ensure the tour is enjoyable for the whole group, A moderate to good level of fitness is required. It is a 19.4km walk which starts with a staged climb to Red Crater. You will be climbing nearly 800m in altitude to 1900m above sea level.  The walk will take approx. 7-8 hours. Sturdy footwear is required.

Booking Form

Please click here to download a copy of the booking form