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Hiking the Tongariro Northern
Circuit New Zealand
The Tongariro Northern Circuit is about 50 kilometres long and
runs around Mt.Ngauruhoe which is an active volcano. Whilst hiking the
Tongariro Northern Circuit there are hot and cold
springs, lakes in old volcano pits, waterfalls and steaming craters to be seen.
You can also climb Mt.Tongariro which is almost 2000metres high and is a two
hour side trip. There are three active volcanoes to be seen on this walk
The Tongariro Northern Circuit is considered a challenging tramp, largely on
open exposed terrain, much of it on uneven track surface. It can be subject to
sudden rapid weather change. You should be at least moderately fit.
If you are considering hiking the Tongariro Northern Circuit please make sure
you have good warm clothing, waterproof and windproof parka, leggings,
comfortable well constructed hiking boots, hat and 30+ sunscreen. There is rain
water for drinking at the huts. Gas heating is available. You need to take
cooking pot, utensils, sleeping bag, food and toilet paper.
It is a Great Walk and dated tickets must be purchased before you depart. Gas
cookers are installed at the huts.
Times between huts are an indication only and may depend on fitness and weather
conditions
Whakapapa to Mangatepopo Hut
Time: 3 hr
Begins 100 metres below the Whakapapa Visitor Centre at Ngauruhoe Place and
along the lower Taranaki Falls track. About 20 minutes from the village the
Mangatepopo track branches off the Falls track.
Heavily eroded in places the track crosses many stream beds. Ahead and to the
right is Pukekaikiore, thought to be one of the older vents of the Tongariro
complex. To the left is Pukeonake, a low scoria cone. Both Pukekaikiore and
Pukeonake witnessed the last ice age when glaciers from Tongariro carved down
through Mangatepopo Valley. The giant cone of Ngauruhoe and the flatter form of
Tongariro are visible ahead. Ngauruhoe is a younger 'parasitic' cone on the side
of Tongariro.
For the last hour the track skirts around Pukekaikiore until it reaches the
Mangatepopo Valley. The Mangatepopo Hut is 5 minutes off the main Mangatepopo to
Ketetahi Hut track.
Note that in bad weather the walk can take up to 5 hours.
Mangatepopo Hut to Emerald Lake
Time: 3 hr 30 min
The track follows Mangatepopo stream up the valley, climbing over a succession
of lava flows from Ngauruhoe. The youngest, very black, lava flows were erupted
from Ngauruhoe in 1949 and 1954.
A five minute detour at the head of the valley leads to Soda Springs, cold
springs which emerge beneath an old lava flow. In spring and summer moisture
loving plants such as white foxgloves and yellow buttercups thrive in the area.
The steep climb required to reach the Mangatepopo Saddle rewards climbers views
of the valley and if clear, Mt Taranaki to the west. From the saddle the track
crosses South Crater, not a true crater but a drainage basin between the
surrounding volcanic landforms.
Ahead more recent lava flows can be seen spilling over from Red Crater. The
climb up to Red Crater offers splendid views of Oturere Valley and Kaimanawa
Ranges to the east.
At the top of Red Crater a poled route to the left leads to Tongariro Summit.
The main track continues on past the rim of Red Crater itself. The spectacular
formation on the far side of the crater is a dike, an old magma feeding pipe to
the vent of the volcano. Harder than the ash and scoria around it erosion has
left it exposed on the side of the crater.
North Crater is the large flat topped crater to the north. This vent once
contained a lava lake which cooled to infill the crater.
A scoria covered ridge leads down to the Emerald Lakes. These three lakes fill
old explosion pits. Their brilliant colouring is caused by minerals washed down
from the thermal area of Red Crater.
Just beyond Emerald Lakes the track branches right to Oturere Hut or continues
straight ahead to Ketetahi Hut.
Emerald Lakes to Ketetahi Hut
Time: 1 hr 30 min
Leaving Emerald Lakes the track crosses Central Crater which like South Crater
is actually another drainage basin. A short climb leads up to the ridge beside
Blue Lake. Blue Lake has formed where cold fresh water fills an old vent.
The track then sidles around North Crater. Views can be had of Lakes Rotoaira
(foreground) and Taupo. As the track loses altitude it enters vast areas of red
tussock cloaking the hills.
The track zig-zags down to Ketetahi Hut. Please resist the temptation to take
short cuts as it causes accelerated erosion.
To complete the Tongariro Alpine Crossing
From Ketetahi Hut the track continues for about two hours down through
tussockland and podocarp forest to the Ketetahi carpark.
The Ketetahi Springs are on private land. Walking the Tongariro Alpine Crossing
does not convey any right of access to the Springs. The Ketetahi Trust,
representing the land owners, has given permission for walkers to cross part of
their land. This does not include access to the Ketetahi Springs. Please respect
this constraint.
Emerald Lake to Oturere Hut
Time: 1 hr 30 min
From Emerald Lakes the track descends steeply into the Oturere Valley with views
of the valley, the Kaimanawa Ranges and the Rangipo Desert. The track weaves
through an endless variety of unusual jagged lava forms from early eruptions
from Red Crater which filled Oturere Valley.
A magical place to visit especially on a misty day. The Oturere Hut is nestled
on the eastern edge of these flows.
Don't forget to check the waterfall over the ridge from the front of the hut.
Oturere Hut to Waihohonu Hut
Time: 2 hr 30 min
After leaving Oturere Hut the track undulates over a number of stream valleys
and open gravel fields. Plant life here has been constantly repressed by
volcanic eruptions, altitude and climate. Loose gravel means that recolonisation
by plants is a slow process on the open and bare countryside.
The track gradually sidles around the foot hills of Ngauruhoe descending into a
valley and crossing one of the branches of the Waihohonu Stream. Continue
through a beech clad valley before climbing towards the ridge top. Waihohonu Hut
is in the next valley.
Waihohonu Hut to Whakapapa Village
Time: 5 hr 30 min
The track follows the Waihohonu Stream gradually climbing to Tama Saddle. Tama
Saddle is exposed and can be windy in bad weather.
On reaching the saddle a track branches to Tama Lakes, two infilled explosion
craters. The lower lake is a ten minute side trip from the junction while the
upper lake is up a steep ridge, a one and a half hour side trip.
Whakapapa Village is approximately two hours from the Tama Lakes junction. After
the first hour the track meets the Taranaki Falls loop walk. To view the falls,
follow the lower track down a flight of stairs to a boulder-ringed pool at the
base of the falls. The track then continues beside Wairere Stream through
mountain beech forest.
Alternatively the upper track can be taken through tussock and shrubland. Both
tracks take about one hour to return to the village. Hiking the Tongariro
Northern Circuit in New Zealand is highly recommended.
Weather in Tongariro Northern Circuit, New Zealand
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