Tramp Tongariro Crossing New Zealand
NZ's Best One-Day Hike

New Zealand’s Tongariro National Park contains many spectacular sights and opportunities for rewarding and refreshing adventures. Among its most remarkable offerings is a trek through Tongariro Crossing New Zealand, considered to be New Zealand’s best one-day hike and among the world’s top ten treks. Tramping through Tongariro NZ will take you on 17 kilometers (about 10.5 miles) of such breathtaking splendor that memories of it will remain with you for life.

Tongariro National Park is located in the center of the northern New Zealand island, in the district of Ruapehu. Among the park’s attractions are Mt. Ruapehu, the tallest mountain on North Island and the scenic Mt. Tongariro, which still emits smoke from its depths. Indeed, Mount Tongariro, Mount Ruapehu, and Mount Ngauruhoe are all active volcanoes which have experienced eruptions during the 20th century.

In 1883, the Maori chief Te Heuheu of the Ngati Tuiwharetoa gave the area which would become Tongariro National Park to New Zealand’s government, under the condition that its natural beauties would be preserved and rendered available for all future generations to enjoy. Thus was born New Zealand’s oldest national park - one that still attracts a tremendous flow of visitors every year.

In 1993, Tongariro National Park was designated a World Heritage Site - the first location in the entire world to receive this honor. Why was it given such exalted honors? Tramp through Tongariro Crossing New Zealand to find out! The Tongariro Crossing track will take you all the way along the length of Mount Tongariro; hiking the entire track will comprise seven to nine of the most thrilling and rewarding hours of your life. Few New Zealand outdoor activities compare to this!

Tongariro Crossing New Zealand begins at the Mangatepopo Valley and proceeds to the Ketetahi Road. Vehicle transport to and from this area at the beginning and end of the trip is a necessity, as Tongariro National Park is fairly remote from any large settlements. Make sure to bring plenty of food and water for the hike, because the hike does demand quite a bit of your energy!

Other items to bring along on a walk through Tongariro National Park include quality travel clothing and gear: sturdy boots with a lot of endurance to them - footwear that can withstand rough volcanic terrain. Wear warm clothing and a rainproof coat and trousers, and protection from the sun.

Weather in this part of New Zealand is known to fluctuate often, and an area one kilometer down the road might have entirely different weather than the area you came from; be ready for weather changes. Furthermore, don’t forget to bring a map, compass, and first aid kit. Be well-prepared, both physically and mentally, as you embark on one of the greatest adventures to be had in the world - a hike through Tongariro Crossing New Zealand!