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PAINANI

PAINANI · RUN / LOCAL

35 · Central North Island, New Zealand

Tongariro Alpine Crossing

Run 20.2 km one way across an active volcano: boardwalk, a 350 m staircase, Red Crater at 1,886 m, a scree drop to the Emerald Lakes, then 1,100 m of descent to a forest road end.

Trail runningOne way
20.2 kmDistance1,196 mElevation gainHardSite gradeWhakapapa Village or National Park (Waimarino)Nearest base

Site grade

HardFeatured

20.2 km one way with 1,196 m of climbing and the same descending, a 350 m staircase to South Crater, loose scree on the steep drop from Red Crater that DOC names a major slip hazard, and a summit that is at least 10 °C colder than Taupō on a calm day.

The experience

20.2 km point to point with 1,196 m of gain and loss: a runnable valley, a 350 m staircase, a second climb to 1,886 m on the rim of Red Crater, a loose scree descent to the Emerald Lakes, and a long stepped descent that finishes 360 m lower than it started.

Te Maari, Red Crater and Ngāuruhoe have all been active within the last hundred years; the most recent eruption was from Te Maari in 2012. GeoNet monitors the volcano and DOC states plainly that monitoring does not ensure your safety.

Ngātoroirangi, founding ancestor of Ngāti Tūwharetoa, named Tongariro and its features thirty generations ago. In 1887 Ngāti Tūwharetoa made the heart of the mountains sacrosanct with the Crown, which led to the national park in 1894, New Zealand's first and the fourth in the world. In 1993 Tongariro became the first property inscribed on the World Heritage List under the revised criteria for cultural landscapes. Today the Crossing is delivered in partnership between DOC and Ngāti Hikairo ki Tongariro; Manaaki Rangers greet visitors at the track from November to April.

Where the sources disagreeAs of 16 September 2026 GeoNet has Tongariro at Volcanic Alert Level 0 (no unrest), but the track is in DOC's winter category until late October: a route, not a track, with ice, avalanche terrain and a helmet, crampons and ice axe listed as essential. Fires that began on 8 November 2025 burned 2,935 ha of the park around the Mangatepōpō start; the Crossing reopened on 17 November 2025 under a ten-year restorative rāhui, and the Mangatepōpō (Ditch) Track was closed until further notice. In summer there is no parking for Crossing users at Mangatepōpō and a four-hour limit at the road ends, so you arrive by shuttle, which needs a free DOC booking. The summits and the lakes are sacred: Ngāti Hikairo ki Tongariro ask that you do not climb Ngāuruhoe or Tongariro and do not touch the water. No water on the track is drinkable. Toilets are every one to two hours and the queue at Mangatepōpō can be long.

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Trail path

The line
you follow.

StartMangatepōpō Road end, 1,120 mFinishKetetahi Road end, 760 mDirectionSouth to north: Mangatepōpō to Ketetahi. DOC describes the track in this direction and the shuttles run it this way.
  1. 01Mangatepōpō Road end
  2. 02Soda Springs
  3. 03South Crater
  4. 04Red Crater
  5. 05Ngā Rotopounamu-Emerald Lakes
  6. 06Central Crater
  7. 07Blue Lake
  8. 08Ketetahi bushline
  9. 09Ketetahi Road end

Route sections

01 · The Boardwalk Warm-upMangatepōpō Road end to Soda Springs
Well-formed boardwalk and gravel up the Mangatepōpō Valley, shared with the Soda Springs Walk for the first 5.4 km. The only stretch you will run at full stride. The valley start was burned in the November 2025 fires; stay on the track through the blackened ground.02 · The StaircaseSoda Springs to South Crater
A steady climb of 350 m up a built staircase from the end of the valley to a short plateau. The Devil's Staircase in DOC's own brochure. Hands on knees, then a flat crater floor to breathe on.03 · The Ridge to the VentSouth Crater to Red Crater
The second climb, exposed to whatever the wind is doing, to the high point at 1,886 m on the rim of Red Crater. DOC lists the Red Crater vent as active within the last 100 years. On a calm day it is at least 10 °C colder here than in Taupō.04 · The Scree DropRed Crater to Blue Lake
A steep descent on loose volcanic scree to Ngā Rotopounamu, the Emerald Lakes, with steam vents beside the track. DOC names this the major slip hazard on the crossing. Do not touch or enter the lakes; they are sacred to Ngāti Hikairo ki Tongariro. A short rise past Blue Lake at 1,725 m follows.05 · The Long Zig-zagBlue Lake to Ketetahi Road end
The track sidles the northern slope of Tongariro, then descends in switchbacks with many steps past the Ketetahi bushline at 1,040 m into forest, finishing at the road end at 760 m. Runnable all the way; the steps decide how your quads feel at the shuttle.

Weather profile

What the sky
is likely to do.

Alpine weather at all times of year: DOC says very cold temperatures, strong wind, heavy rain and poor visibility are common in summer and snow can fall in any month. On a calm day Red Crater is at least 10 °C colder than Taupō and 5 °C colder than the track start; subtract another 2 °C for every 10 km/h of wind. Expect ice on the track between April and October.

Season & timing

Managed seasonSummer season Labour weekend (late October) to 30 April: intermediate track, 7 to 8 hours, parking restrictions and shuttles. Winter season May to October: expert route, 9 hours, alpine skills and equipment required, no hazardous-weather advisories issued, shuttles generally do not run.Best windowDecember to March. Book the first shuttle drop at Mangatepōpō, check the NIWA Red Crater forecast and the DOC advisory at 6 am, and be over Red Crater before the day's wind builds.SurfaceBoardwalk and gravel in the Mangatepōpō Valley, a built staircase, the flat floor of South Crater, loose volcanic scree on Red Crater, benched zig-zag track with many steps on the northern slopes, forest track to the road endDirectionSouth to north: Mangatepōpō to Ketetahi. DOC describes the track in this direction and the shuttles run it this way.

Signature moments

What you will
remember afterwards.

01

Ngāuruhoe's cone above the Mangatepōpō Valley

02

The flat floor of South Crater after the staircase

03

The rim of Red Crater at 1,886 m

04

The first sight of the Emerald Lakes from the scree

05

Lake Rotoaira and Lake Taupō from the northern zig-zags

DECISION

6 AM

The hour DOC decides whether today is a day to cross

Every summer morning DOC checks the NIWA Red Crater forecast against fixed thresholds: average wind of 55 km/h, gusts of 70 km/h, wind chill of minus 10 °C, or 10 mm of rain in six hours. If any is exceeded for two hours between 9 am and 5 pm, a 'Not Recommended Today' advisory goes up at the Mangatepōpō road end and out to every shuttle operator.

Access & logistics

AccessBy shuttle from Whakapapa, National Park, Tūrangi, Taupō, Ohakune, Raetihi or Taumarunui, booked through the local isite. In summer there is no parking for Crossing users at Mangatepōpō and a four-hour limit at the road ends; a private car park sits near the Ketetahi end. Do not park on the state highways.PermitsNone. Tongariro National Park rules apply: no dogs anywhere in the park, no bikes, no drones without a permit. Stay on the track, especially through the 2025 fire ground under rāhui, and clean your shoes before you come.BookingsA free DOC booking is recommended for anyone on any part of the track and is required to use a shuttle or guide. One booking per group, online or at any isite; carry the receipt to show rangers at the car park. There is no cap and no penalty for arriving without one. Tongariro Northern Circuit hut or campsite bookings exempt you.WaterCarry 2 to 3 litres. DOC states that water along the track is not suitable for drinking.FoodNothing on the track. Carry a full day's food; the shuttle towns have shops and cafés.Mobile coverageDOC lists a mobile phone among essentials but tells you to carry a personal locator beacon as well. Do not rely on coverage on the crater rims.DurationDOC: 7 to 8 hours November to April; 9 hours May to October.

Key hazards

  • ▲Volcanic eruption without warning; the track crosses volcanic hazard zones
  • ▲Loose scree on the steep descent from Red Crater
  • ▲Hot steam vents near the Emerald Lakes
  • ▲Wind, cold and poor visibility at any time of year
  • ▲Snow, ice and avalanche terrain from April to October
  • ▲A 'Not Recommended Today' advisory can be applied at 6 am on any summer day
  • ▲No drinkable water on the track
  • ▲Long stepped descent on the northern slopes
  • ▲No mobile coverage to rely on for a forecast on the ridge

SafetyOrientation only. Always use current official maps, alerts and safety guidance. Check the GeoNet volcanic alert level and the DOC advisory before you start, carry a windproof layer, a headtorch and a beacon, and turn back if the weather turns.

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Official sources

Last verified 2026-09-16 · Record CETC-RUN-035 · Orientation only. Always use current official maps, alerts and safety guidance.

Photograph: Geoff McKay · CC BY 2.0