Tongariro Crossing Weather and Volcanic Alerts

The Tongariro Alpine Crossing was open when this page was checked in November 2026: the Department of Conservation’s (DOC) only notice on the track was maintenance work, with helicopter flights on some days and minor delays. The weather decides most days. In summer DOC posts a “Not Recommended Today” advisory at 6 am when the forecast crosses its limits, so book transport that moves with it, such as Tongariro Expeditions’ Tongariro Alpine Crossing with Shuttle Transfers, from US$42 a person (checked November 2026), which offers a new date or a refund when unsafe weather stops the crossing.

The calendar above is Tongariro Expeditions’ crossing shuttle, with 422 reviews (checked November 2026).

Open or closed, November 2026

The closed track is the old walking route from Whakapapa Village to the start of the crossing; it does not affect the crossing itself, but it means the start is reached by road.

The 2025 fires

A fire that started on 8 November 2025 burned about 2,935 ha of Tongariro National Park and closed the crossing. DOC reopened it at 9 am on 17 November 2025, at first with access by shuttle drop-off only, because the Mangatepopo road and car park had been damaged. A second fire of about 300 ha closed it again, and the crossing and every walk around Whakapapa Village reopened on 10 December 2025. Ngāti Hikairo ki Tongariro placed a ten-year restorative rāhui over the burnt areas: it does not close open tracks, but walkers are asked to stay on them and keep out of fire-affected ground.

Check dates for the crossing shuttle

The 6 am advisory

From late October to April, DOC decides at 6 am each day whether to apply “Not Recommended Today”. It does so if, on any two hours between 9 am and 5 pm, the forecast for Red Crater shows any of these:

• average wind of 55 km/h or more, or gusts of 70 km/h or more;
• wind chill of -10 °C or colder, or 0 °C or colder with 1 mm of rain or more;
• rain of 2.5 mm an hour or more, or snow of 0.1 cm an hour or more;

or 10 mm of rain or more over six hours between 9 am and 5 pm. The advisory shows on the NIWA forecast page for Tongariro National Park, which DOC links as the forecast to read, and on signs at the Mangatepopo road end. DOC issues no advisories from May to October; in winter the judgement is yours or your guide’s.

On a calm day Red Crater is at least 10 °C colder than Taupō and 5 °C colder than the start; subtract another 2 °C for every 10 km/h of wind. Be ready to turn back if conditions change or progress is slow.

The volcanoes

The crossing runs through an active volcanic area. DOC’s hazard zone is 3 km around each of Mount Tongariro’s three active vents, Te Maari, Red Crater and Ngauruhoe; the most recent eruption was from Te Maari in 2012. If GeoNet raises the alert level at Tongariro or Ngauruhoe, DOC closes the track or sections of it, and if unrest centres on Red Crater, or its source is uncertain, it closes the whole crossing. Ruapehu’s 29 October 2026 bulletin reported tremor rising to moderate levels since early October with the alert level unchanged at 1; Ruapehu is the mountain to the south and lies outside the crossing.

If an eruption happens while you are on the track, DOC’s advice is to move away from the vent at once, out of the valleys, and to shelter behind a bank or ridge with your pack over your head if rocks or an ash cloud come towards you. Do not approach the steam vents.

Pick transport for an uncertain week

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.

On a day the crossing is not on, DOC suggests the Taranaki Falls Walking Track or the Tama Lakes Track from Whakapapa Village instead, or the half-day walk to Soda Springs when the high ground is the problem.