Tongariro Alpine Crossing

Walking the heritage line

It's said to be the best one-day hike in New Zealand!

Taking between seven and eight hours to complete, the Tongariro Alpine Crossing is a 17-kilometre track going from one side of our World Heritage-listed Tongariro National Park to the other.

The views at the top are awesome. On a fine day, you can see Lake Taupo and even Taranaki 40 kilometres away.

As you cross the saddle between Tongariro and Ngauruhoe you'll see lava flows, springs, steam vents, volcanic craters, emerald-coloured lakes, tussock slopes and, on the descent, hardwood forests rich in bird life.

Although it's not a difficult walk, one section is pretty strenuous and it's very important to take protection for all weathers.

The track can be traversed in either direction, but the easiest and most popular route starts at the western end through the Mangatepopo Valley.

You will also get a lot more from this experience through a local guide, learning about the wonderful legends and traditions that make our very first national park so culturally significant.

If you can't manage the walk, there's the option of experiencing the awesome splendour of Tongariro National Park from the comfort of a helicopter or fixed-wing scenic flight.