The Tongariro Alpine Crossing is often described as New Zealand’s greatest day walk and a world-renowned trek. Tongariro National Park is New Zealand’s oldest National Park and a dual World Heritage Site, with not one but three volcanoes! We were excited for our day of “tramping” through the volcanic heartland of New Zealand. Very few day walks offer such thrilling scenery. Among its highlights are steaming vents, crazy rock formations, moonscape basins, impossible scree slopes and vast views in every direction. An epic trek, but how suitable is it for kids?
HIKING THE TONGARIRO ALPINE CROSSING WITH KIDS
The Tongariro Alpine Crossing is a 19.4 kilometre hike, with a grading of difficult. It is a one way hike, which means transport needs to be arranged to the start and from the finish of the hike. It is estimated to take between six and eight hours. The Tongariro Alpine Crossing is a challenging journey across a remarkable volcanic landscape. This is a challenging alpine trek and it needs to be treated with respect.
STARTING OUT
Our hike started at 8.30am in the Mangatepopo car park. We had arranged transport with ROAM and after a safety briefing and the reassurance that we would be picked up at the end point of the hike we were off. It was a beautiful sunny morning with clear blue skies. Right from the start the scenery was spectacular.
After about an hour of hiking up a steady incline alongside a bubbling stream the scenery began to change. The scenery became much more volcanic – black soil and large volcanic boulders were evident. As a geographer I was in my element, spectacular volcanic scenery all around. The perfect time for a geography lesson!
After a warning sign detailing the perils of the crossing, the real climb up the mountain began. The climb was steep and tough. Plenty of rest stops were had. The views however, were getting better and better. This really is a tough steep climb!
THE PERFECT VOLCANO OF MOUNT NGAURUHOE
With Mt Ngauruhoe looming over us we took some photographs and paused to enjoy the scenery. The view from here was amazing and it was about to get even better. First a quick stop for some food, cheese and ham wraps to keep us going for a while longer. All food and water have to be carried for the whole trek so Dave and I were laden down with provisions!
We hiked across the vast South Crater, and then it was time for one more push to the top. As we climbed up towards the top it was incredibly windy, quite scary at times. The final climb was steep, strenuous, very windy and a little dangerous. The ground was rocky and covered with loose gravel, making us slip and slide at times and the wind was blowing hard. There was an alarming drop off back down to the caldera. We kept our heads down and tried to just keep going. At times we were almost crawling, trying to keep as low as possible in the wind.
STUNNING VIEWS OVER TONGARIRO NATIONAL PARK
From the highest point of the hike we had amazing views in every direction of the Tongariro National Park. We could see Mt Ngauruhoe, the largest mountain on the North Island Mt Ruapehu, the Red Crater and the Emerald Lakes. We had beautiful clear skies, a perfect day, despite the wind. The views from the top were stunning, worth the steep arduous climb. Wow. This really is a fantastic hike.
A STEEP (AND A LITTLE DANGEROUS!) DESCENT
It was a steep descent down to the Emerald Lakes. The path down to the Emerald Lakes is a scree slope of loose rock and gravel, with drop offs on either side. We took it slowly through the gravel, walking side to side to avoid falling. It took us a little while to get down this scree slope. There was a distinct smell of sulphur in the air from the sulphur pools.
A PICNIC LUNCH
From the Emerald Lakes there is still a long way to go!
A little further on we stopped in an area overlooking the well named Blue Lake. Here we ate our picnic lunch of meat and cheese rolls, followed by muffins.
THE FINAL PUSH
From this point it was a downhill walk back to the Ketetahi car park (the end point of the crossing). On the way down we could see the Te Maari Crater, sending plumes of white steam into the sky. This was the site of the volcanic eruption and lahar (floodwater from a volcanic crater lake) in 2013. There were multiple warnings that we were in active volcano territory and not to leave the trail.
It took us about three and a half hours to get from our lunch picnic spot to the car park. By the time we got to the car park we were all exhausted. The descent is long and punishing on the legs, as it is relentless. The last few kilometres seemed to go on forever as we trudged through woodland at the base of the mountain. We did the entire hike in seven and a half hours, including our breaks for food and photographs. An amazing achievement for a family of five with a child as young as eight. They were the only children on the mountain that day! We are privileged to travel like we do but it is moments like these that really make us appreciate what we are doing.
We loved the Tongariro Alpine Crossing and it will definitely be a highlight of our time in New Zealand. It is the best day trek we have done anywhere in the world. For a truly amazing hike with wonderful views and stunning volcanic scenery put the Tongariro Alpine Crossing on your list for New Zealand.
Watch our YouTube video of the Tongariro Alpine Crossing.
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE HIKING THE TONGARIRO ALPINE CROSSING
The Tongariro Alpine Crossing is a 19.4 kilometre hike, graded as difficult. It is estimated to take between six and eight hours.
It is a one way hike, which means transport needs to be arranged to the start and from the finish of the hike. We started from the car park at Mangatepopo and finished at the car park at Ketetahi. Transport was organised from our campsite Whakapapa Holiday Park, in Whakapapa Village, through ROAM. Transfers cost $35 per adult and $25 per child. Prices correct in 2018. Transfers do not run in bad weather.
The Tongariro Alpine Crossing can be subject to unpredictable weather, and conditions can change quickly. It is important that all walkers carry the essentials for the hike. Waterproofs and sturdy hiking shoes are a must. Layers are essential so that you can add or take off, as needed. Hats and gloves as well as sunglasses and sunscreen are advisable.
All food and water will need to be carried for the duration of the trek.
Toilets are available at both car parks (start and end points of the crossing) and at Soda Springs (about one hour in to the hike).
Children need to have hiked regularly and for long distances before embarking on the Tongariro Crossing. This is a long, and at times difficult hike. The entire hike took us seven and a half hours. Our youngest was eight at the time of hiking and coped well, but this hike should not be underestimated.
FOR OTHER GREAT HIKES FROM AROUND THE WORLD:
- Climbing Table Mountain in Cape Town with Kids
- Hiking to Tiger’s Nest Monastery in Bhutan
- Hiking the Great Wall of China with Kids
- Best Family Hikes Around the World
Updated Post December 2018
Have you completed the Tongariro Alpine Crossing with or without kids? It is a fabulous hike, a must do if you are in New Zealand.
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21 Comments.
Wow! What a great achievement. The photos of the Emerald Lakes were stunning. I bet you felt the descent in your legs the next day, tough going.
It was a fantastic walk, the best we’ve ever done. The boys did amazingly – it was challenging and a long way! We were all very proud of ourselves and pleased that we’d been able to do it as a family.
What an incredible hike in an awesome landscape. This is juts the type of thing we hope to do with our girls when they are a bit bigger. Mr TB would love walking through the set of Lord of the Rings!! Thanks for sharing this on #MondayEscapes
It was an amazing hike and we were so proud to complete this as a family. The boys were the only children hiking the Tongariro Crossing on the day we did it!
Your post brings back such happy memories. The hike has to be one of our favourite hikes ever. We did it in winter and had to a wear crampons on our boots as it was so icy at the top. The colour of the lakes has to be seen to be believed. Well done team! What a wonderful experience to have as a family. We hope to take our boys back there when they’re a little bit older. #FarawayFiles
One of our favourites too.
This is a really impressive hike to do with an eight year old! Good on him for lasting the distance. The scenery is just extraordinary, isn’t it? I love those blue and emerald lakes. Thanks so much for sharing your adventures with us on #FarawayFiles
He’s definitely a trooper…has to keep up with his older brothers! The boys were the only children hiking the Tongariro Crossing that day, everyone kept commenting on the fact. It is an amazing hike through stunning scenery and well worth the effort. We’re waiting for Flynn to be old enough to hike to Everest Base Camp…next year when he is ten!
Wow – what a fab adventure. We are looking at doing it this December – we would be taking our 16 month old in the baby carrier…what do you recon?
It’s a tough long trek but it really depends on how used to hiking with said toddler in a baby carrier you are. There’s a very steep slippery descent (lots of loose rocks, scree slope) which could be dangerous with a small person on your back unless you’re used to hiking in this way. Poles would be worthwhile to give you extra balance.
We have younger children than yours. I don’t think we would be able to do the whole crossing, but is there a section at the beginning or at the end that would still be worthwhile to do? We can definitely hike for quite a few hours….just not sure if we can do the whole thing. I was thinking maybe an out and back.
How old are your children? I would say 7/8 is about the youngest age I would take children on the Tongariro Crossing. The hike is a point to point hike so you don’t start and finish at the same point. The section at the start might be worth doing. You could do a couple of miles up to the black volcanic rocks and see if you could get up to get the views of Mt Ngauruhoe, then turn back. Unfortunately Mt Tongariro and the Emerald Lakes are pretty much half way so if you got this far you might as well continue. The start is definitely more scenic than the finish section. Hope this helps…
Thank you! My kids are young, but pretty capable, plus we have a backpack carrier for breaks…..but I know we can’t do the whole thing. It’s good to know that the first part is slightly more scenic. We will have to figure out if it is something we want to do part of…..
Oh my goodness!!! The scenery – that is SO amazing! Our kids are only 5 and 3 so we won’t be able to do it this trip but when they are a bit older I’d absolutely LOVE to do this!! Thanks for sharing.
It is the best hike we’ve ever done! truly amazing scenery and a real sense of achievement on completion.
Great story and photos to lay out your journey! I am intending to do the crossing with my three daughters, aged 9, 11, 11 in late Feb 2018. I’m a little nervous at the ratio of 1 adult to 3 children, but it sounds like such a remarkable journey, and I would love to achieve this with my children. I am certain of their physical ability, but as you know with children, the psychological challenge is the most difficult….
Hi Dean. It certainly is the most amazing hike and well worth the effort. We did the hike in early February and as long the weather is good i would go for it. We certainly had to motivate our crew with singing, word games and the like, for the last few kilometres which seemed to go on for ever! The pride and delight at finishing was something special though. Let me know how you get on.
What a great hike! Would love to spend a day on this journey when we finally get to visiting New Zealand. Thanks for the tips!
It’s a must do on the North Island if you’re fit and healthy.
This is a different side of New Zealand that I usually see in pictures. We are hoping to make it there something in the next year or two.
Its an amazing country to visit, so beautiful.