Tongariro Alpine Crossing - Everything you need to know | Full Hike Walkthrough

Hiking the inspiration for Mount Doom in Lord of the Rings, the Tongariro Crossing will be one of your highlights in the north island of New Zealand near Taupo. I show you from end to end what our day trekking went down, what I learned, and our experience with Tongariro Crossing. Open this up to learn more ↓
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[@GoingAwesomePlaces]

Got questions for me about the Tongariro Crossing? 1) Make sure you check out the blog post and 2) Drop a comment here! If you found this video useful, make sure you sub at goaw.pl/AwesomeTube!

[@equal99hkjh80]

Why you slept in a bed and Not in a tent? :) I‘m Wondering because you are stayed with flying kiwi

[@GoingAwesomePlaces]

@@equal99hkjh80 At this point we weren't actually with Flying Kiwi anymore since we did the Reverse Traverse so we had to rent our own car and plan this part on our own!

[@julieufi8083]

Wonder if I can catch an uber or bus from my motel to there...do you know how much will cost me ?

[@GoingAwesomePlaces]

Hey Julie, have you had a chance to read my full guide here? goingawesomeplaces.com/tongariro-alpine-crossing-hiking-guide/

[@julieufi8083]

@@GoingAwesomePlaces thank you

[@capdevilaish]

This was so fun to watch! I did the crossing in February 2019 and it was exactly like this, waking up way too early, enjoying the amazing views, having 354 breaks and then rushing to the shuttle. :D

[@GoingAwesomePlaces]

LOL! I'm glad we weren't the only ones! The last section of the hike we had to rush like we've never rushed before. It was so crazy but man what a great experience!

[@gimenamendoza9210]

Great video

[@saradalikes]

Loved this hike

[@GoingAwesomePlaces]

When did you get to do it? What was your fav part?

[@user-xp3fj8kd6s]

Very specific and useful imformation! Thank you for sharing🎉

[@GoingAwesomePlaces]

Glad you found it helpful! Thanks for stopping by!

[@mimiwong4152]

Amazing video

[@GoingAwesomePlaces]

Aww thanks!! Are you thinking about doing this hike?

[@katemckay8791]

Great video, I did this hike two days ago, had all the weather changes, bad visibility almost turned back but decided to get it done! It was hard, really hard, but we did it at our pace, enjoyed a hot coffee by the emerald lake and made it to the other side! Now to recover..lol

[@GoingAwesomePlaces]

Thank you! That’s awesome to hear. What are the conditions there now. I imagine much less packed. Also did you use a bus service?

[@katemckay8791]

@@GoingAwesomePlaces hi! DOC had initially said the conditions weren’t good but then the weather changed and they allowed us to go, we had low lying cloud and fog, rain and wind at the top, and rain on the way down. Then the sun came out for the last 3km through the bush and it was lovely, those last 3km felt like 10km lol we used a shuttle service that picked us up at the end too so no time constraints which was great. We went to the hot pools after the hike, so good! There were no crowds, but still around 20-30 people maybe, I didn’t count

[@hugh6948]

Super awesome video! The editing was well done as well :)

[@GoingAwesomePlaces]

Thanks so much!! Have you done this hike or thinking about doing it?

[@Douall99]

Thanks Mate. Looking to do this with my Dad later in the year and this was really helpful. Hope you had a great time in NZ!

[@GoingAwesomePlaces]

It’s a good time to go especially with the smaller crowds now. Should be an epic time :)

[@lonewalker4608]

Thanks for your video. I’m doing this crossing on Monday 😊. Will be quite different with no international walkers this season. Hope I get weather like you both did.

[@GoingAwesomePlaces]

Thanks for stopping by! Yes I can only imagine how much better the hike would be without the massive crowds. I imagine the landscape has had more time to heal and blossom as well!

[@equal99hkjh80]

Best video about tongariro ☺️ thank you so much

[@GoingAwesomePlaces]

Glad you enjoyed this one!!

[@PhilippeBorfiga]

Nice ! Thank you for sharing :)

[@GoingAwesomePlaces]

Philippe BORFIGA you’re welcome! Are you headed there soon?

[@PhilippeBorfiga]

@@GoingAwesomePlaces Already done in 2016, with beautiful sky... lucky ! I will post soon a movie of 3 month in NZ. I will send you the link with pleasur ! keep going friend :)

[@GoingAwesomePlaces]

Philippe BORFIGA looking forward to it!

[@samstewart7455]

did it at the back end of 2019, one of the scariest experiences ever, was cold, wet plenty of wind, and also little to no visibility surprised no one died during the trek tbh hahah. would love to go back and do it with a sunny day like you guys had!!

[@badnewz2180]

Just done this hike yesterday was awsome

[@GoingAwesomePlaces]

Sweet! Was it busy on the day you went?

[@badnewz2180]

@@GoingAwesomePlaces yea it was man .started off bad weather but as we come down to emerald lakes .cleard up blue sky's was good and happy I made the hike

[@AlexcHearnden]

Great Video. Like some comments below, we went when it was near zero visibility and was one of the hardest climbs I have ever experienced. The memories are -4 degrees in March due to wind chill and very dangerous winds, climbing up those chains, literally embracing the loose rock fall and like you did, jog down the end path. We only went as we were on a road trip and had no other time to do it. 3-4 tour groups were cancelled that day, so effectively most of the climb was empty of people, but no views to dream about.

[@maylh]

Was there on Feb. 17, 2020. Started at 7am, and ended at 3pm. As you said, stunning views. The last hour we ran to catch the 3pm shuttle as we spent too much time taking photos while descending. Exhausted to death but worth it. Unforgettable hiking experience.

[@GoingAwesomePlaces]

Glad to hear that we weren’t the only ones! The last stretch was stressful running back down but yes a super memorable experience!!

[@shikha308]

I am going to do this crossing in Jan 2022 (my New Year resolution 😃), however, my initial plan was delayed due to current Covid restrictions in NZ so now I am fully prepared and all set for the hike. It's an amazing Hike, no doubt about it and I am hoping to get the nice weather up the mountain 🗻 as you guys did. Thanks for sharing this video tho, it's really healful... And I am soo looking forward to it!😊

[@GoingAwesomePlaces]

I hope you get to go at some point. The trail will be waiting for you :)

[@greenhouseproductions6475]

My partner and I done it 2 weeks ago! Drove 3 hours from Tauranga at 3am-started the crossing at 6.30am - finished the crossing at 2.45pm then drove 3 hours back to Tauranga

[@GoingAwesomePlaces]

Oh wow you guys are TROOPERS! You must've been exhausted by the end!

[@greenhouseproductions6475]

I nearly died hahaha

[@greylynnjr]

Wow. And my wife reckons drive down from auckland and do it. Yea na lol

[@GoingAwesomePlaces]

It’s totally do-able!!

[@distortedfeatures]

Great video! Our close friend group vacate down to Tongiraro as often as possible and this is the first year we're planning on actually doing the crossing. In saying that, not all of us are entirely in shape. Is this hike more for experienced hikers who are used to the conditions more than non-hikers?

[@rjtay9362]

Have you got alpine experience. No then don’t try.this is a dangerous trek involving high edges, precarious drops and rock climbing. The route is now nearly 30k and has been poorly maintained. The chains no longer exist . The scree is treacherous

[@markescano3970]

Hi there, im inspired to your video. May I ask if you guys have a guided tour on this hike? Or is it a group hike with your friends? Any links to recommend for guided hike for tongariro alpine crossing. No experience on tramping yet. Thanks

[@GoingAwesomePlaces]

This isn't a guided tour but to be honest it's not really needed as the path is well defined and you'll be following a whole group of people all doing the same trail. The company I used was simply a shuttle company. You don't need serious hiking experience but just make sure you have the right footwear and not be like some of those people I saw sliding down. Here's a full article I wrote about the experience: goingawesomeplaces.com/tongariro-alpine-crossing-hiking-guide/

[@markescano3970]

@@GoingAwesomePlaces thank you so much 😃👌👍

[@GoingAwesomePlaces]

@@markescano3970 you’re welcome!

[@darrenconlon6605]

Hi guys. What date did you hike the crossing? We did it Dec 27 2019 and there was no snow. So jealous, would like to do it again with snow. I personally found the walk down to Emerald Pools pretty okay, but my other half took at least 20 minutes longer than me to get down. I used hiking boots to ski/slide the whole way down (sideways). We found the hardest part was the final zip-zag walk down looking over Taupo, seemed to go on, and on, and on, for ever ...

[@hikingzone]

Thank you for posting Going there on New year holiday Did you pay any fee for Entry ⛔ ????

[@GoingAwesomePlaces]

From what I remember there was no fee at all!

[@jackieking1522]

You went too slow at the start... too much in the Mangatopopo and not enough in the North crater/blue lake. Then you missed the new eruptions, the Ketatahi shelter ( glimpsed ) and the great bush with flood damage to the car park. Try it one day when the sleet freezes on your legs ( we did turn back that day... South crater wall might have finished us.))

[@GoingAwesomePlaces]

Yeah for sure! With filming things always take longer than you think it will and with something like this, it definitely caught up to us at the end when we had to make that crazy dash.

[@ObeluStrawberry]

i will be going to NZ this coming oct-Nov, may i know which month u did this? is this a guided tour or just transportation provided? how much does it cost?

[@GoingAwesomePlaces]

Awesome! So we were there in the beginning of November to give you an idea of what the climate was like at the time. It's just transportation to and from either just outside the park like this one goingawesomeplaces.com/tongariro-expeditions-shuttle-service. They used to do pick ups from Taupo but I don't see those options anymore. The cost is only $35NZ

[@ObeluStrawberry]

@@GoingAwesomePlaces great thanks for the tips

[@jialian6542]

Hi! Would you have been able to summit Mount Tongariro as the add on to this hike?

[@GoingAwesomePlaces]

You’re actually not allowed to summit Mt Tongariro which I know is confusing because it’s sacred grounds. The hike goes up the saddle of the two mountains and comes back down.

[@jialian6542]

@@GoingAwesomePlaces Thanks for letting me know! What about Mount Ngauruhoe (Mt Doom)?

[@MrSilverfish12]

@@jialian6542 ALL three summits(including mt doom/Ngarahoe) are forbidden to climb because it its considered sacred by the local Maori tribe. They use to relaxed about it but rangers now patrol it from time to time to discourage people.

[@Sipu97]

From what I have read, I have gathered that it is not forbidden, it's just discouraged due to the sacredness. Apparently, some locals are not happy with this and disagree with how climbing it is said to be disrespectful. But I'm not a Kiwi, so I don't know.

[@MrSilverfish12]

@@Sipu97 yes you are correct my apologies. Yes the locals have been discouraging it for the past few years. They cant legally stop you though.

[@weka6533]

What month did you do this?

[@GoingAwesomePlaces]

This was in December!

[@weka6533]

Thanks. I was thinking of doing it in November. Will make sure I prepare for snow.

[@GoingAwesomePlaces]

Only a little when we were there. At the very top there was this area with a bit of snow where we were playing in but after that it was pretty dry but you never know of course! Plus the seasons are opposite to northern hemisphere so I think the most snow would by July/Aug?

[@weka6533]

@@GoingAwesomePlaces yes, winter here is June-August. Pretty sure I’ve been snowboarding early October on Ruapahu before. Definitely does depend on what the winter was like and if any polar storms have come through. Thanks for the heads up, I hadn’t thought about snow that late in the season. Will take some pocket crampons just in case.

[@adventuresnz7905]

You know you are meant to run down the slippery part right? 😂 It's scree running.

[@GoingAwesomePlaces]

That's what I kept telling my wife but she wouldn't believe me haha!

[@dickrijs1909]

Nicole McLaren Whe dönt like iT its dangereus 😖

[@adventuresnz7905]

@@GoingAwesomePlaces haha, I did the northern circuit 2 weeks ago which does this part of the crossing. We ran down it and I fell on my butt twice but it was fun! 😂

[@rjtay9362]

Please be aware this is an alpine crossing, Since lockdowns the path is crumbling and many markers are gone. Did this in march 2022 and the chains were gone. We had trained and it still took 13 hours. Do NOT do this in light shoes and beach walk clothes this is NOT an easy walk

[@GoingAwesomePlaces]

Thanks for the heads up. I was definitely really concerned for people that just treated this like a walk in the park. You definitely need to do it with the right gear.

[@GreencampRhodie]

Beautiful hike. Too much video yakking.

[@GoingAwesomePlaces]

RhodieFreedomCamp thanks for watching!