Auckland to Tongariro Crossing – A How To Guide

How to get from Auckland to Tongariro Crossing is a question asked daily by travelers. The National Park is roughly four hours by car from Auckland and is recognized as a World Heritage Site because of its impressive natural features and cultural significance. There are plenty of activities that you can enjoy when you visit the park to take advantage of its gorgeous natural landscape. The Tongariro Alpine Crossing is its most popular attraction, dubbed by many as the best one-day hike in the country.

Find out how you can get from Auckland to Tongariro to experience one of the most gorgeous hikes you will have in your lifetime.

About the Tongariro Alpine Crossing

The Tongariro Alpine Crossing is approximately 19.4 km long from start to finish. Depending on your pace, this hike can take about 6 to 8 hours to complete. This is why you need to allow one full day to explore this hike so come down from Auckland the day before. You can choose to embark on this hike from any point but most hikers prefer to set off at the Mangatepopo Valley.

This is not a circuit trail so you won’t be going back to the starting point. If possible, you need to arrange transportation to meet you at the end of the hike.

The hike itself is visually stunning; you will be able to witness a wide range of natural landscapes and formations such as lava flows, active craters, emerald lakes, steam vents, and more breathtaking natural features. While you might be able to marvel at gorgeous volcanic landscapes, you need to be aware that this is a challenging walk.

When you set off at the Mangatepopo Valley, you will follow a stream and the edge of an old lava flow. As you head to the South Crater, you will notice the climb becoming steeper as you scale the volcanic terrain. However, the views get better, too – you can even see Mount Taranaki on a clear day.

Another highlight to this hike is the Red Crater. This is the highest point of the Tongariro Crossing hike. You’ll know that this is an active crater by the smell of sulphur that it emits.

Then there is the Emerald Lakes. This view greets you when you start your descent and is considered as one of the highlights of the track. It is also a popular spot for taking photos.

How to Get from Auckland to Tongariro

If you would like to conquer the Tongariro Alpine Crossing for a day hike, then you need to do some planning for a seamless expedition. First off, you can start your hike from either end of the route. There are also plenty of side trips that you can take along the way. For example, you can take a side trip to Soda Springs from the head of the Mangatepopo Valley wherein you can find flowers like white foxgloves and yellow buttercups. You can also opt to climb Mount Ngauruhoe (Mount Doom) but is a more advanced hike.

As for your transportation to get from Auckland to Tongariro, you have a few options to choose from. Here are some of the choices available so you can select what is most convenient for you.

Train

The first option is to take the train from Auckland to Tongariro. This is the recommended option for travellers. The total travel time is less than 6 hours.

Train tickets from Auckland to National Park are available from railnewzealand.com and vary in price depending on the season. This is probably the nicest and most scenic way to get there.

Bus

Another option to get from Auckland to Tongariro is via bus. The total travel time is 7 hours and 30 minutes. It is also the cheapest travel option so it is recommended for budget travellers.

From Auckland Central, you must catch the bus with the Auckland – Palmerston North route. There is only one single trip daily so it is best to book your ticket ahead of time.

Once you reach the National Park Village, you need to transfer to another bus en route to Whakapapa. There are about 5 buses that travel this route on a daily basis. Your travel time from the National Park Village to Whakapapa is approximately 20 minutes.

Once you get off the bus at Whakapapa, you need to walk 20 metres to the entrance of Tongariro National Park.

Private/Rental Car

The third option to get from Auckland to Tongariro is to drive there – either with a private car or car rental. There are plenty of car rental companies that operate in the area so make sure to arrange booking prior to your intended travel date. A lot of car rental companies are located near Beach Road in Central Auckland. Just stroll along here and compare prices.

This is the fastest way to get to Tongariro National Park, which takes approximately 4 hours (or equivalent to a distance travelled of 343 kilometres. You will be travelling via the State Highway 1 and State Highway 4.

Another option is via State Highway 1 and State Highway 32 but that is a longer route measuring a distance of 355 kilometres (or a total travel time of a little over 4 hours).

Tips Before Your Journey from Auckland to Tongariro

Tongariro Alpine Crossing is one of the most popular day hikes in New Zealand. Due to its popularity, it can get crowded quite easily. Make sure you plan ahead to ensure that the weather conditions in Tongariro National Park are ok as they can be unpredictable and change rapidly. Therefore, it is important that you pack the essentials you need to survive the changing weather conditions. This is common in an alpine environment.

If possible, check the weather conditions before you go so that you can prepare ahead of time. When you hike during the winter, make sure you pack the essentials like ice axes and crampons. In the summer, make sure you have enough water with you and also have protective gear against the sun. There are no places to get water during this walk and you won’t have anywhere to get shade from the sun.

Finally, wear the appropriate gear for this hike. You can wear any comfortable shoes (but don’t wear flip flops) to help you navigate the steep climbs and loose rocks with ease. Also, you will need a pair of gloves. Even in the summer, it can be chilly because of the altitude.

Are you interested in traveling from Auckland to Tongariro to conquer New Zealand’s most famous walk? Take note of the information above to help you plan the perfect day hike. Let me know if I missed any important tips or details in the comments below.

Need something to do in Auckland the day before the big Tongariro excursion? Check out my Top 45 Things to do in Auckland - A Local's Guide