Tongariro Northern Circuit

The Tongariro Northern Circuit is one of New Zealand's ten Great Walks, a 43-kilometre loop around the active volcano Mount Ngauruhoe within Tongariro National Park, a dual World Heritage site sacred to local iwi. It incorporates the famous Tongariro Alpine Crossing as its most dramatic day.

Walkers usually take three to four days, staying in Department of Conservation huts at Mangatepopo, Oturere and Waihohonu, or camping nearby. The terrain is raw volcanic country: black lava flows, steaming vents, the vivid Emerald Lakes and the Red Crater high point at about 1,868 metres. Total ascent across the loop is significant, and exposed sections above the bushline carry the full force of alpine weather even in midsummer.

Difficulty is moderate for fit walkers, though the crossing day involves steep scree, loose footing and long climbs. Huts must be booked in advance through DOC during the Great Walks season, and the walk is best done anti-clockwise to ease the gradients. Winter turns it into a mountaineering route requiring ice axe, crampons and avalanche awareness.

The main season runs from late October to April, when huts are staffed and tracks are clear of snow. Sudden storms, whiteouts and freezing wind are common regardless of the calendar, so layered clothing, sturdy boots and a check of the volcanic activity bulletin are essential before setting out. Sunrise from the Red Crater rim, with Ngauruhoe's near-perfect cone glowing above the ash fields, is the reward that defines the circuit.