Tongariro Northern Circuit
About the Tongariro Northern Circuit
The Tongariro Northern Circuit in New Zealand is a renowned trekking route that takes adventurers through the diverse landscapes of the Tongariro National Park. Covering a distance of 45 kilometers, this circuit typically requires 3 days to complete. Hikers will encounter a variety of terrains, from lush forests and serene alpine meadows to stark volcanic landscapes and emerald lakes. This track is famous for its challenging yet rewarding experience, offering a unique glimpse into the natural beauty of New Zealand’s North Island. You can see our outdoor maps page to find all the specific maps of New Zealand.
The journey begins and ends at Whakapapa Village, providing a convenient loop for trekkers. As you traverse the circuit, you’ll pass by iconic landmarks such as the Red Crater, the stunning Emerald Lakes, and the tranquil Blue Lake. The route also offers spectacular views of Mount Ngauruhoe and Mount Tongariro, making it a visual feast for those who venture along its paths.
Along the way, you’ll find numerous points of interest, including volcanic craters, thermal areas, and pristine lakes. Outonome.com can assist you in meticulously planning your adventure, providing detailed itineraries, elevation profiles, and waypoint information. With tools like the Itinerary Planning Tool and Path Marker Tool, outonome.com ensures you are well-prepared for every step of the Tongariro Northern Circuit.
44.68 km
Medium
~3 days
1827 m
1773 m
1773 m
Country crossed : New-zealand 
Tongariro Northern Circuit steps
How to use the outonome.com tabloguide ?
Doing the Tongariro Northern Circuit in the reverse way
You can change the direction of the itinerary by pressing the “Normal way” button. The Tongariro Northern Circuit will switch from the classic way to the reverse way.
Trail or hike the Tongariro Northern Circuit
You can press the button on the hiking boot to switch to trail mode, this will automatically change the steps times.
Adapt the Tongariro Northern Circuit steps to your physical condition
You can select your physical condition from 5 choices to have step times automatically recalculated so you can better prepare your itinerary or steps.
Calculate walking times between two steps
In the tabloguide, to the left of each step is a greyed-out circle, simply click on the 2-steps circles to have the path time calculated according to the data you’ve selected (hike/trail and physical condition) as well as distance, time, altitude difference, etc….
View a step on the map
By clicking on the map dot icon to the left of a step name, the site scrolls down to where the map is and zooms in on the exact location of the step.
See off-trail and variants of the Tongariro Northern Circuit
On some steps, to the right of the name, there are blue squares (variants, which momentarily take another path and then join it) or yellow squares (off-trails, which go completely off the itinerary). These squares are clickable and open the linked steps.
Get information on each step of the Tongariro Northern Circuit
For each step are shown estimated walking times (according to the parameters selected), the distance between the previous step and this one, the positive and negative vertical drop, and the minimum and maximum altitudes reached during the step.
Locate refuges, bivouacs, hotels, supermarkets, restaurants, buses on each Tongariro Northern Circuit step
On each step line, on the right-hand side of the tabloguide, you’ll find: bivouacs, refuges, hotels, guesthouses, supermarkets, restaurants, cafés, buses, trains. If one of these is located at the step, there is a tick, otherwise there is nothing.
List of Tongariro Northern Circuit offtrails
Pukeonake, Mount Ngauruhoe, Tongariro, Blue Lake, State Highway 1, Ohinepango Springs, Upper Tama, Punaruku Falls, Soda springs
Tongariro Northern Circuit map
Tongariro Northern Circuit GPX Track
A GPX (GPS Exchange Format) track is a file format used to record GPS positioning data, such as waypoints and tracks recorded during a hiking or trail activity, for example. It can be used to plan a hike, follow an existing route or share location information with others.
The Tongariro Northern Circuit GPX track, for example, follows the classical Tongariro Northern Circuit itinerary and includes all steps, such as: Whakapapa Village, Emrald Lakes, Ohinepango Springs, Soda Springs, Taranaki Falls, Punaruku Falls, Whaihohonu Hut, Mangatepopo hut, Pukeonake, Mount Ngauruhoe, Red Crater, Mount Tongariro, Blue Lake, Lower Tama… Outonome.com offers you the Tongariro Northern Circuit track for free. Simply enter your email address in the field below and you’ll receive it immediately !
More information
Here you’ll find more topics related to self-guided travel and the Tongariro Northern Circuit, in greater detail, exploring other possibilities, letting you discover new things about it and other ways to complete this itinerary !
How many days to do the Tongariro Northern Circuit ?
Experience the Tongariro Northern Circuit: a 45-kilometer trek through lush forests, volcanic landscapes, and emerald lakes in New Zealand’s Tongariro National Park, typically completed in 3 unforgettable days.
Tongariro Northern Circuit 2 Days
Explore the Tongariro Northern Circuit: a 45-kilometer trek through diverse landscapes, including lush forests, volcanic terrains, and emerald lakes. Enjoy iconic landmarks and breathtaking views over 2 unforgettable days.
Tongariro Northern Circuit 3 Days
Explore the Tongariro Northern Circuit: a 45-kilometer trek through lush forests, volcanic landscapes, and emerald lakes. Starting and ending at Whakapapa Village, this 3-day journey showcases New Zealand’s natural beauty.
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