From late October to April, explore the volcanic heart of Tongariro National Park, a landscape of stark glacial contrasts and alpine views. From May to late October, it can be cold and wet, with ice, snow, avalanches and short daylight hours - only go if you have navigation and alpine skills.
Bookings for the 2025/26 season open at 9.30 am on Thursday 22 May 2025.
Bookings are not required for Tongariro Northern Circuit huts outside the Great Walk season (May to late October). During this time huts are first come, first served. Fees still apply.
In the Great Walks season (25 October 2024 – 30 April 2025)
Best time to walk the track - there are more facilities and fewer hazards. Bookings are required for huts and campsites. Intermediate track category.
Outside the Great Walks season (1 May 2025 – 23 October 2025)
Walking the track should only be attempted by fit, experienced and well-equipped people - facilities are greatly reduced and there are additional hazards. Advanced and expert track categories. Hut bookings are not required. Huts are first come, first served but fees still apply.
May to late October (winter season): Walking the track outside the Great Walks season should only be attempted if you have alpine skills, equipment and experience.
Walking options
The Tongariro Northern Circuit can be walked either direction.
Most walkers take 4 days/3 nights or 3 days/2 nights. Very fit people can walk it in 2 days/1 night, but each day is at least 8 hours.
We recommend runners who plan to complete the circuit in a day book to use the Tongariro Alpine Crossing track. Track users with a Tongariro Northern Circuit hut or campsite booking do not need to make a booking for the Tongariro Alpine Crossing track.
Note: climbing the peaks of Mounts Ngauruhoe and Tongariro is disrespectful and unacceptable to Ngāti Tūwharetoa. Ngāti Tūwharetoa are the iwi who made the tuku/gift of these sacred peaks to Aotearoa New Zealand.
Places to stay
There are three huts with campsites nearby along the Tongariro Northern Circuit. These must be booked in advance during the Great Walks season. Camping is not allowed within 500m of this track.
Huts have bunks, mattresses, heating, toilets, basic gas cooking facilities, solar-powered lighting and cold running water. A DOC ranger is present. The huts do not provide food, cooking utensils or showers.
Whakapapa Village to Mangatepopo Hut
Time: 3-5 hr, weather dependent Distance: 9.4 km
Eroded section of track between Whakapapa Village and Mangatepopo Hut. Image:DOC
Eroded section of track between Whakapapa Village and Mangatepopo Hut. Image: DOC
Begin 100 m below the Whakapapa Visitor Centre at Ngauruhoe Place and along the lower Taranaki Falls track. After about 20 min the Mangatepopo track branches off from the Taranaki Falls track. From this point the remaining time to Mangatepopo Hut is approximately 3 hr, or up to 5 hr in poor weather conditions.
The section of track between Whakapapa Village and Mangatepopo Hut is not up to our usual Great Walk standards. The terrain is rough and heavily eroded in places. Visitors are advised to take extra care when traversing this section of track and allow plenty of time to complete the journey.
If you wish to avoid this section of track, you can start the walk at Mangatepopo car park and finish at Whakapapa Village. Arrange a drop off at Mangatepopo car park with a local shuttle operator, or contact the Tongariro Visitor Centre for more information.
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 track. The Mangatepopo Hut is five minutes off of the main track.
This is a 20-bunk hut located on the Tongariro Northern Circuit in Ruapehu.
Category: Great Walk
Facilities: 20 bunk beds, cooking, heating, mattresses, toilets - non-flush, water from tap - not treated, boil before use
Bookings required
Mangatepopo Hut to Emerald Lakes
Time: 3 hr 30 min Distance: 8 km
The track follows Mangatepopo stream up the valley, climbing over a succession of old 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 the cold Soda Springs and waterfall, 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. Loose rocks and stones on the steep slopes of Red Crater present a major slip hazard - walkers are advised to extra time and care.
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.
Blue Lake is visible from the top of Red Crater, across the Central Crater - which like South Crater is actually another drainage basin. Blue Lake has formed where cold fresh water fills an old vent.
A loose, rocky ridge leads down to the spectacular Emerald Lakes, which fill old explosion pits. Their brilliant colouring is caused by minerals washed down from the thermal area of Red Crater.
The Tongariro Alpine Crossing continues from Emerald Lakes to Ketetahi Road.
Emerald Lakes to Oturere Hut
Time: 1 hr 30 min Distance: 4 km
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. There is a pretty waterfall over the ridge from the hut.
This is a 26-bunk hut located on the Tongariro Northern Circuit in the Tūrangi/Taupō area.
Category: Great Walk
Facilities: 26 bunk beds, cooking, heating, mattresses, toilets - non-flush, water from tap - not treated, boil before use
Bookings required
Oturere Hut to Waihohonu Hut
Time: 3 hr Distance: 8.1 km
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.
This is a 28-bunk hut located on the Tongariro Northern Circuit Great Walk in the Tūrangi Taupo area.
Category: Great Walk
Facilities: 28 bunk beds, cooking, heating, mattresses, toilets - non-flush, water from tap - not treated, boil before use
Bookings required
Waihohonu Hut to Whakapapa Village
Distance: 15.4 km Time: 5 hr
The track follows the Waihohonu stream and gradually climbs to Tama Saddle. This area can be windy as it sits between the mountains.
From the saddle there is a very worthwhile side trip to the striking Tama Lakes, two infilled explosion craters. The lower lake is only 10 minutes from the junction, while the upper lake is up a steep ridge, taking 1 hour 30 minutes return.
Whakapapa Village is about two hours from the Tama Lakes junction. After the first hour the track meets the Taranaki Falls loop walk, one of the best short walks in the Park. There are two options to return to the village, both take about an hour. To view the waterfall, follow the lower section of the track down the steps to its base, then follow the Wairere stream through beautiful mountain beech forest back to the village.
Alternatively take the upper section of track through open tussock and shrubland back to the village.
Side trip: Ohinepango Springs
Time: 1 hr return from Waihohonu Hut
Crystal clear cold water bubbles up from beneath the old lava flow and discharges at an enormous rate into the Ohinepango Stream.
The springs are signposted on the Round the Mountain Track heading south towards Rangipo Hut.
Side trip: Historic Waihohonu Hut
Time: 20 min return from Waihohonu Hut; 10 min return from the Tongariro Northern Circuit Track
Built in 1903/04, this was the first hut built in Tongariro National Park. It's the oldest example of a typical early two-room mountain hut in New Zealand. Historic Waihohonu Hut.
Side trip: Tama Lakes
Time: 20 min return to Lower Tama from the junction, 1 hr 30 min return to Upper Tama from the junction.
Access half way between Waihohonu Hut and Whakapapa Village.
Tama Lakes, two infilled explosion craters, are named after Tamatea, the high chief of the Takitimu Canoe, who explored the area six centuries ago.
The lower lake (at 1200 m), is 10 minutes from the junction. Volcanic debris is slowly washing in and filling the crater. The upper lake (at 1314 m) is a further 40 minutes up a steep ridge. This beautiful lake is reputed to be very deep.
You need to pay fees to stay at the huts and campsites on this track. Fees vary depending on when you go.
Hut fees
Prices are per person, per night. NZ rates are for New Zealand visitors and INT rates are for international visitors.
Bookings for the 2025/26 season open at 9.30 am on Thursday 22 May 2025.
Bookings are not required for Tongariro Northern Circuit huts outside the Great Walk season (May to late October). During this time huts are first come, first served. Fees still apply.
In the Great Walks season (25 October 2024 – 30 April 2025)
If you don’t have a valid booking for your stay, you may be charged a penalty, or turned away if the hut/campsite is full.
Outside the Great Walks season (1 May 2025 – 23 October 2025)
Bookings are not required.
Bunks in huts are first come, first served.
Payment is with Backcountry Hut Tickets or a Backcountry Hut Pass – buy these from a DOC visitor centre before you go.
Tongariro Northern Circuit starts and ends in Whakapapa Village.
There are overnight parking areas in the village – visit the Tongariro National Park Visitor Centre for directions to these areas and to receive a free parking permit.
Public transport is an option. Bus and train services run to National Park Village, on route between Auckland and Wellington and 15 km from Whakapapa Village. Local shuttle services provide transfers to Whakapapa Village.
The track can also be accessed from parking areas at:
Mangatepopo Road end, off SH 47. Note, there is a 4-hour parking restriction at the Mangatepopo road end throughout the Great Walk season. Visit the Tongariro National Park Visitor Centre for a free parking permit or have your booking ticket available for the traffic management team to sight.
Waihohonu track access point off the Desert Road (SH1), 35 km south of Turangi.
May to late October (winter season): Special skills and preparation are required to complete the Tongariro Northern Circuit in winter. There is increased risk from snow, ice, avalanche terrain and sub-zero temperatures.
The terrain is difficult
Most of the track is open, difficult, exposed and on uneven surfaces.
Track is not recommended for children under the age of 10. The track travels over exposed mountainous landscapes and often with adverse weather conditions.
Extra caution is needed descending the 400 m section of the Tongariro Northern Circuit track that drops from the lowest Emerald Lake down into the Oturere Valley, towards Oturere hut. This section comprises of steep and slippery sections, with small rocks covering the hard lava surface. The rocks are often sharp and it tends to be most slippery in dry conditions.
Be prepared for all weather conditions
Weather can change suddenly, from warm and sunny to cold and wet with strong winds. Dress warmly as wind-chill can be severe. Be prepared for all conditions. Check the Tongariro National Park weather forecast (NIWA website).
There are several active volcanic vents
The Tongariro Northern Circuit passes through volcanic hazard zones – even when the track is open, volcanic risk is present. Volcanic monitoring systems monitor activity and mitigate volcanic risk, but won't ensure your personal safety. If you are uncomfortable with this risk, choose a different track.
Mobile reception varies
Mobile reception is reasonably good along the track, but there are sections with no coverage. Generally there is no or very limited mobile coverage at Waihohonu Hut.
Tongariro Alpine Crossing booking system
We recommend runners who plan to complete the circuit in a day book to use the Tongariro Alpine Crossing track. Track users with a Tongariro Northern Circuit hut or campsite booking do not need to make a booking for the Tongariro Alpine Crossing.
Some of our Great Walk huts have sanitary bins but do come prepared if there isn't one. Find out more about Menstruation in the backcountry.
If camping
Tent
Sleeping mat
Ground sheet
Gas cooker
Clothing
For multi-day walking you'll need at least one set of clothes to walk in and another dry set to change into at night.
Tramping/hiking boots or firm footwear – should be comfortable and well broken in
Socks – wool or polypropylene
Shorts – quick dry material
Shirt – wool or polypropylene
Under layers, top and bottom – wool or polypropylene
Mid-layers – wool or polar fleece
Raincoat – waterproof, windproof with hood
Overtrousers – wind and waterproof
Warm hat and gloves
Sunhat and sunglasses
Extra socks, underwear, shirt/lightweight jersey
Optional
Gaiters
Lightweight shoes for inside the huts
Fire starters
Food
You cannot buy food on the track. Carry all the meals and snacks you will need, plus some spare, and a water bottle. We recommend food that is lightweight, fast cooking and high in energy value.
We do not provide emergency food in huts. You will need to carry emergency food supplies in case you are delayed by weather.
Store your food in a rodent-proof container or bag. This is especially important if you are camping
May to October
For safety reasons, the Tongariro Northern Circuit doesn't operate as a Great Walk/Easier tramping track during May to October. If attempting the Tongariro Northern Circuit in that time, you'll need additional equipment.
Outside the Great Walks season (1 May 2025 – 23 October 2025)
During the winter season, the Tongariro Northern Circuit is not a Great Walk and has reduced facilities.
There is increased risk from snow, ice, avalanche terrain and sub-zero temperatures.
Suitable for people with alpine skills, equipment and experience. You must:
know how to navigate if cloud or snow covers the marker poles and you cannot see them
know where avalanches are a risk and be able to rescue someone if an avalanche occurs
have the equipment and skills to prevent a slide on icy terrain
have the clothing for sub-zero temperatures and be able to survive if the weather get worse.
Fees and bookings
Outside of the Great Walks season, hut fees are reduced and bookings are not required. Full information can be found in the fees and booking section for this track.
Expect challenging track conditions
Track surface: Track is covered in snow and very icy in sections.
Snow and ice is common in higher areas and sometimes on lower areas. Deep snow can hide track markers. At times, surface conditions can be hard ice.
During the winter months, Tongariro is frequently cold, wet and windy. Dress for the conditions.
Avalanches are possible from July to October
Most of the track is simple terrain, however some sections of the Tongariro Northern Circuit track pass through challenging and complex avalanche terrain, including where it crosses over Red Crater between South Crater and Emerald Lakes
Avalanches are most common during the winter and spring (July to October) but can occur before or after that period. The avalanche hazard can change with very little warning.
If you are going into places avalanches could occur, be sure you:
have the skills for the ATES class you are going into
take an avalanche transceiver, avalanche probe and a snow shovel. Know how to use these tools.
Expect reduced hut facilities
Hut facilities are reduced.
Gas cookers are not provided – you need to bring your own cooking stove.
Running water may not be available. Water can be obtained from the outside water tank; if this is frozen, then from the nearest watercourse or by melting snow. We recommend that you treat all stream water in case of giardia or other bugs.
No unauthorised drone use in the national park
South Crater in winter