How Long Is the Tongariro Alpine Crossing?

The Tongariro Alpine Crossing is 20.2 km one way, from the Mangatepopo Car Park to the Ketetahi car park, and the Department of Conservation (DOC) allows 7 to 8 hours for it from November to April and 9 hours from May to October. The highest point is Red Crater at 1886 m. Slower walkers do best with a shuttle that runs several return times, such as Tongariro Crossing Shuttles’ Tongariro Alpine Crossing: Hike Trail Roundtrip Shuttle from National Park Village, from US$42 a person (checked November 2026).

The calendar above is the round trip from National Park Village, with 883 reviews (checked November 2026).

The figures

So the climb from the start to Red Crater is 766 m, and the descent from Red Crater to Ketetahi is 1126 m: the second half is the one the knees remember. The walk is one way, Mangatepopo to Ketetahi, which is the direction every shuttle and guide uses.

Section by section

1. Mangatepopo Valley. A boardwalk climbs gently up the valley. The first 5.4 km are shared with the Soda Springs walk, and the next toilets are 1 km, about 20 minutes, from the car park.
2. The staircase to South Crater. At the head of the valley the track steepens: a climb of about 350 m on steps to the flat floor of South Crater.
3. Red Crater. Another climb to the crater rim, the highest point at 1886 m. DOC warns that loose rock on the steep slopes here is a major slip hazard.
4. The Emerald Lakes. A steep descent on scree to the Emerald Lakes, Ngā Rotopounamu. Do not touch or enter them: DOC passes on the request of Ngāti Hikairo ki Tongariro’s kaumātua that visitors keep out of every waterway on the sacred mountains.
5. The Blue Lake and the northern slopes. Past the Blue Lake, Te Wai Whakaata o Te Rangihiroa, the long descent begins, with Lake Rotoaira and Lake Taupō below, and ends in forest at Ketetahi Road.

Check dates for the round trip

Is it hard?

DOC grades the crossing high on fitness, steep and undulating, an intermediate tramping track from Labour weekend to 30 April and an expert route from May to October. It does not recommend it for children under 10. The hard parts are short but real: the staircase, the climb to Red Crater and the scree below it, the most exposed part of the walk. On a calm day Red Crater is at least 10 °C colder than Taupō, and DOC’s rule is to subtract another 2 °C for every 10 km/h of wind.

Water, food and toilets

There is no drinkable water on the track: DOC says to carry 2 to 3 litres. Toilets come every one to two hours. Bring lunch, a warm layer and a waterproof jacket even on a sunny morning. Drones are not allowed without a permit, nor are dogs or bikes.

Pick the pace that suits you

Prices, ratings and review counts from the listings (GetYourGuide checked November 2026). Operators price by date and season, so treat the figures as the shape of the market, not a quote.

If 20.2 km is too much, the half-day walk turns round at Soda Springs.