Report this content if it is:
Route Outline: Tongariro Northern Circuit
Added Exploring an active volcanic landscape of craters, lakes, springs, and sulphurous gases, this spectacular track is hard to match.
Despite the name, this track is not a circuit of Mt Tongariro, nor is it on the north side of Tongariro. The name refers to the fact that of the two circuit tracks in Tongariro National Park, this is the northern one (the other, the Around the Mountain track, leads around Mt Ruapehu).
Winter conditions effectively close the track to most trampers, with snow and avalanche conditions.
Access
This circuit has several entry point and offers various walking options. Buses and trains visit National Park on SH4, and from there, local transport is available along SH47 and SH48 through to Whakapapa Village.
Whakapapa Village-Mangatepopo Hut: 3 hr
Meandering through tussock and beech forest, the track soon reaches an access track leading to Mangatepopo Road and another side track leading to the hut.
Mangatepopo Hut-Emerald Lakes: 3½-5½ hr
Passing the soda springs, the track climbs onto the South Crater, soon switching to the Red Crater. A 2 hr side track leads to the summit of Tongariro. The track drops off the crater to the mineral-stained Emerald Lakes. Forking here, The track's left branch leads to Ketetahi Hut, while the right branch continues the circuit.
Emerald Lakes-Ketetahi Hut: 1½ hr
Edging around Central Crater, the track passes Blue Lake and drops down to the hut. The nearby Ketetahi Springs are on private land and are closed to visitors. A side track leads from here out to Ketetahi Road.
Emerald Lakes-Oturere Hut: 2½-3½ hr
Dropping into the Oturere valley, the track passes old lava flows.
Oturere Hut-Waihohonu Hut: 2-3 hr
An undulating track passes over bare ground and along forested streams.
A side track descends from here to SH1. The Around the Mountain track also leads off to the south on its course around Ruapehu. Nearby is Old Waihohonu Hut, which is closed for accommodation.
Waihohonu Hut-Whakapapa Village: 5-6 hr
The track climbs onto Tama Saddle where a short side track leads to Tama Lakes. From here the track returns to Whakapapa.
| Map sheets |
-
|
|---|
Popular tagsMount Tongariro
Ngauruhoe Volcano
Tongariro Alpine Crossing
Te Mari Craters
Ketetahi Track
Soda Springs
Tongariro Northern Circuit
"Yes, defintely not the place to go if you want solitude! You would think DOC and the bus companies would consider limiting the numbers doing the 1 day crossing. I was told that on a sunny day, you could get upto 800 or more people doing the crossing! Notwithstanding, it's definitely a great walk and I mananged to miss a lot of the day walkers by starting early from Mangetatopo Hut (7 am). By the time I was coming off Mt Ngaurohue, there was a stream of people heading to the summit like a stream of ants. By the way, I had spoken to many people who had told me that the best day was the one most people did as a day crossing and the rest of the Northern circuit was 'pretty uninteresting'! I'm glad I didn't listen to their advice. I found the weird landscapes and changing scenery (desert to Beech forest into Waihohonu Hut) pretty amazing and rewarding. Though I must admit the last part , from the Tama Lakes side track back to Whakakpapa village was a little dull. Once again the NZ huts were wonderful." — OzTramper 3 February 20043 February 2004
"I did this walk in erly spring and there was still a small amount of snow. It was fantastic the vews were rely good, and the walks, despit the rain and snow where well werth the transport costs for my group to get up there. the gas fire at Oturere or Waihohonu i can not remember which was not working but that will most likly have been fixed by now." — mallen 11 June 200311 June 2003
"The Northern Circuit is awesome. I found it very rewarding and the views are fantastic!!!!
A great way to spend several days."
— Jess 1 October 20021 October 2002
"The Northern Circuit is worth the title, 'A Grreat Walk'. But it's not the place to go if you want solitude. It is a great trip to meet people of many different nationalities. Polish, German, English, Austrian as well as us Kiwi's." — MattBixley 29 June 200129 June 2001
Sign in to add a comment
