Two pairs of long warm trousers. Once New Zealand moves into Covid19 Alert Level 2, we will be providing small, safe and bubble-friendly guided hikes with a pricing special for winter 2020! Read more about the experience of hiking Tongariro Alpine Crossing in winter here. You also won’t have to worry about being alone as there will be plenty of people up there with you. What an amazing experience!! Doom was based after in the films. The Tongariro Alpine Crossing can be walked in either direction and there are several side trips. Four warm tops. We could have gone around it, of course, but that would have added a few extra hours to the hike. Required fields are marked *. Once you come down the other side of the Red Crater, it’s a bit more sheltered. Most importantly, I felt safe. Â. It was so much fun and quite possibly the highlight of my hike. NO trainers, runners, gumboots, or slip-ons or any shoe or boot with mesh material. Normally, they’re an eye-catching green but during my trip, the snow and ice had covered them leaving only a faded outline. All rights reserved.Â. Thanks for sharing. It also has some seriously good Indian restaurants if you have some leisure time.Â, I stayed at Rainbow Lodge, a budget-friendly hostel with free WiFi and a sauna (yes to the free sauna!). The Tongariro National Park is located in the Ruapehu District in the middle of New Zealand’s North Island.Â. NO cotton tops (i.e. The first time I heard about the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, it was in relation to The Lord of the Rings. The hike itself felt as if we were walking through the land of Mordor – just in the middle of winter. As if you need any more proof that nature is not a force to be reckoned with! NO alcohol or drugs to have been consumed within the previous eight hours before trip departure. Police initially received a call from two of the trampers at 8:40pm last night who were walking in the cold, snowy conditions. The price was a hefty 195 NZD but it included the minibus shuttles, all the necessary equipment, a full guided tour and refreshments at the end. We stayed in Taupo last year but in summer. The weather is usually unpredictable and a thick blanket of snow covers the higher points. Ahead of you, the snow-covered peaks dominate the skyline, unyielding of the challenges that lie ahead.Â, After about an hour and a half, you’ll reach the end of the first section and the track will immediately start to get challenging. ... Tongariro Alpine Crossing Winter Safety . Tongariro Alpine Crossing Guided Tours are strongly recommended during the winter months as much of the track becomes covered in snow and ice! Not sure I’d be able to do it in winter though. From June to October, snow and ice means alpine skills and experience are essential - it's best to go with guide or choose another track. It’s the easiest leg of the route as you can follow the Mangatepopo stream via a wooden track that elevates you slightly over the boggy terrain.Â, You’re still low down here but the landscape is fairly barren and looks almost otherworldly. At 1,886 metres above sea level, it’s the highest point of the Tongariro Crossing. In winter, it’s a different story. Tongariro Expeditions can help you to make your trip safe, reliable and cost effective. Reliable rain coat which can be a shell only. I would love to do the hike in the summer too just to see the lakes. I am not sure if I could hike in temperatures that cold, but after reading this, I would make exceptions! The National Park is a dual World Heritage Site. The vegetation changes from coarse brown grass to lush green bushes. The Gear we provide is – (Inclusive in the price) Hiking Boots / Winter warm Jackets / Fleece Pants & Tops / Backpacks / Ice Axe / Crampons / Helmet Allow longer in winter conditions. Most importantly, I felt safe. Â, Read More: What it’s Really Like to Travel New Zealand with Kiwi Experience, If you’re going with a tour guide you don’t actually need to be as equipped as you think you do. In the mid of summer the Tongariro Alpine Crossing can also reach some high temperatures as y ou hike at a higher altitude than normal. There were a few moments when I seriously thought I was going to get buffeted over the edge.Â, After a tough half an hour, you’ll reach the summit of the Red Crater. I’d love to do something like this one day!! I did this hike in the summer and it was awesome and challenging. so plan for alternatives and also for the fact that high winds especially may put paid to your trek Read More: What is Ecotourism and Why is it Important?Â, The final section of the walk is a steady descent towards the car park. A rescue is underway for four trampers on the Tongariro Alpine Crossing who reported being lost yesterday evening. We found a slightly sheltered dip and sat down to eat our lunch. Wow. These are Mt Tongariro (1967m), Mt Ngauruhoe (2291m) and Mt Ruapehu (2797m). Walking boots with adequate tread (not trainers, runners or slip-on shoes). The Tongariro Crossing in winter is cold, wet and windy. As you get closer to the South Crater, the stark rocky landscape will be buried in a blanket of brilliant white snow. Unfortunately, we didn’t have time to do the hike but it’s something I’d like to do next time. Snow or not, this section looks like the surface of the moon. Tongariro Alpine Crossing Winter Guided Walks, Raft Kayaking / Caving EOTC Schools & Groups / Team Building / Corporate Activities Tongariro National Park Follow us on facebook 0800 386 925 info@adventureoutdoors.co.nz You see, Mt. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. It’s also the crater of a dormant supervolcano that erupted about 1,800 years ago.Â, Taupo has plenty of accommodation that you can arrange your guide and transfer to the Tongariro Crossing through. Here you can get a stunning view of the twin Emerald Lakes that get their colour from the minerals leaching into the water. It was probably one of the most physically demanding things I’ve ever done but I am an inexperienced hiker who had never dealt with crampons and ice axes before.Â, Still, I’d do this trail in a heartbeat if I got the chance again. The ridge is also narrow with steep slopes on either side. Without alpine experience, a guided trip is recommended. This part of the trail also goes by the name of Devil’s Staircase. Thank you for taking me on this fabulous hiking experience! The easiest way to walk it is if you put your foot directly into the footprint left by the person in front.Â, Eventually, the snow melts away revealing the copper tufts of grass and a landscape marred by rocks and lava from ancient and modern volcanic eruptions.Â. I’m from New Zealand and still haven’t done it 😩, Haha don’t worry I’m from the UK and I haven’t seen much of the country at all! Soda Springs: 15-minute side trip from the head of Mangatepopo Valley, where you will find an oasis for the moisture-loving, yellow buttercups and white foxgloves. Winter is a wonderful time to experience the magic of Mt Tongariro with a guide. Nevertheless, it’s still possible and every bit as stunning as the summer. Three active andesitic volcanoes dominate the scenery of the area. Two Responsible Travellers Share Their Top Sustainable ... 8 Essentials for Surviving the Hostel Lifestyle, What it’s Really Like to Travel New Zealand with Kiwi Experience, What is Ecotourism and Why is it Important?Â, The Ultimate Guide to Travelling Solo in New Zealand, The Best Travel Blogging Courses to Skyrocket Your Blog in 2021, 14 Best International Cocktail Recipes With Sustainable Spirits, Best Wine Tasting in New Zealand: Waiheke Island vs Central Otago, 15 Best Ethical Animal Experiences Around the World. However in winter thanks to heavy snow and increased danger levels, it’s often closed to the public unless you pay big dollar for a … and al… The crossing is a World Heritage Site, taking in some of Aotearoa’s most stunning natural scenery, including the volcanic peaks of Ngauruhoe, Tongariro and Ruapehu. One misstep could see you sliding speedily down them which is why it was important that we knew how to stop ourselves with the ice axe.Â, As if that wasn’t enough, you might experience a strong icy wind blowing over the ridge. Our guides also taught us how to catch ourselves with our ice axes in case we slipped. For more information, read our. Find out how to be a sustainable traveller in this guide to green travel. It’s breathtakingly beautiful but it can be dangerous if you don’t know what you’re doing. Little Lost Travel is your complete guide to nature-based and sustainable travel. For more information, please read our privacy policy.Â. This section of the trail is fairly moderate in the summer. Here’s what I wore for the Tongariro Crossing in winter:Â, You will also need to take 1.5 litres of water and a packed lunch.Â, All items marked with * were provided by the tour guide at no extra cost.Â. Thank you! Sun, warmish down the bottom and no snow on Tongariro. Trust me, you’re going to want to relax afterwards anyway.Â, A tour is the safest way to do the hike in winter, In summer, the Tongariro Crossing is a popular day hike that requires a decent level of fitness but you can do it fairly safely without a guide. The best time to do the Tongariro Crossing if you want an easier hike is in the summer from November to the end of April. They were very helpful and gave me daily updates when I had to wait a few days for the weather to clear.Â, Read More: 8 Essentials for Surviving the Hostel Lifestyle, If you’re coming from Taupo, the easiest way to get to the Tongariro National Park is by booking a minibus transfer through your accommodation. It was definitely tough but the hike would definitely be worth doing in the summer too. While hiking the Tongariro Crossing the wind was brutal, the visibility was low and the cold was penetrating after any amount of time sitting still. Dried-up lava flows scar the land and plumes of steam rise from geysers and boiling mud pools. Winter in New Zealand runs from June to August, which is a great time to see the Tongariro Crossing in a completely different way. My cousin and I drove down from Rotorua at the end of high season in April and managed to catch a perfect day. The hostel had a heavy backpacker vibe and everyone was super friendly – including the resident dog. Get all the latest blog posts, updates, exclusive travel content and a FREE quick guide to sustainable travel sent straight to your inbox! The Tongariro Crossing is the most popular tramp in the country. There are increased risks from snow, ice, avalanche terrain and sub-zero temperatures. The Tongariro Crossing is 19.4km and takes about 8 hours to complete during the winter months. Tongariro Alpine Crossing winter alternative New Zealand has many great full and multi-day walks, the Tongariro Alpine Crossing is one of them. Thank you! It requires a bit of stamina and scrambling on all fours (no judgement!) Posted by Francesca Brooking | Oceania | 14, The Tongariro Alpine Crossing in New Zealand is one of the most formidable and awe-inspiring walking trails in the world. It was a bit daunting, to be honest, but once you’re up there you do actually work up heat so it’s not too bad. I do prefer the warmth over the cold but it was so beautiful up there so it was definitely worth it! You also don’t want to get lost up there in below-freezing conditions and the weather can change very quickly. Here, you can discover the best ecolodges in the world, sustainable destination guides and so much more! During this part of the year we are extremely careful about track conditions and weather. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. As we get further into winter be prepared to get told early in the morning that it is too dangerous today. The world famous walk, wearing it's winter coat. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Whatever you do, avoid denim. Keen to read about other walking trails in New Zealand? Taupo has plenty of accommodation that you can arrange your guide and transfer to the Tongariro Crossing through. It’s the oldest national park in New Zealand and the sixth national park established in the world.Â, Mount Ruapehu, Ngauruhoe and Tongariro are all active volcanoes located in the centre of the park.Â, The Tongariro National Park is best known as Mordor and Mount Ngauruhoe as Mount Doom in Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings film trilogy.Â, The Crossing is 19.4 km in length and it takes roughly six to eight hours to complete depending on the weather.Â. I enjoyed reading this and seeing your photos. The town is located on the banks of Lake Taupo, the largest lake by surface area in New Zealand. It also has some seriously good, , a TripAdvisor approved local tour guide. To the right, Mount Ngauruhoe (Mount Doom) towers over you, an aloof white cone.Â, The South Crater was one of my favourite parts of the trail. I was glad of my sunglasses and my ice axe to steady myself over the more slippery parts.Â, After a steep ascent, the vast expanse of the South Crater is a bit of a relief. A guided winter Tongariro Alpine Crossing is truly unique. Footwear must come to above the ankle and be made of a non-mesh material, i.e. During the Summer, most people are able to do it in around 6 hours but the addition of wintry conditions such as snow means extra caution is required which means extra time. The Tongariro Crossing is regarded as the best one day hike in New Zealand, you can freedom walk the crossing or enjoy the company of an experienced guide. 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