Last Updated: 5th Oct 2024

Intermediate

Save Trail Save

I've done it Done

Tongariro Northern Circuit

National Park, Manawatu - Wanganui

Submitted by Mal Law

Last Updated: 5th Oct 2024

Intermediate

Save Trail Save

I've done it Done

Open

Grunt Factor: 68 ?

Gnarl Factor: 35 ?

44.5km

1600m

1600m

1868m

  

  

  

Login as a VIP to see driving directions, distance and time.

Trail Map

Type of Run

Back country - remote

Loop

Mountainous

Native bush

Open ridges/tops

Volcanic

Run Makeup

60%
18%
20%
2%

Easy Single Track

Moderate Single Track

Technical Single Track

Untracked / Route only

Average Uphill Gradient: +6.6%

Average Downhill Gradient: -7.2%

Trailhead

Login as a VIP to see the trailhead information.

Estimated Times to Run

10:00

Slow

7:30

Moderate

5:00

Fast

Please note: all peaks in the Tongariro National Park are sacred to the local hapū Ngāti Hikairo Ki Tongariro, who ask that we show respect by not climbing them. Access is not actually  banned, so this is a conscience call for all trampers and runners.

This Great Walk is a loop that could be run in either direction but it is highly recommended to go CLOCKWISE so as to avoid having to climb up a huge scree field and avoid the disappointment of not getting to run down this instead.

Begin 100 metres below the Whakapapa Visitor Centre at Ngauruhoe Place and along the lower Taranaki Falls track. After about 20 minutes the Mangatepopo track branches off from the Taranaki Falls track. Heavily eroded in places the track crosses many stream beds and lives up to its nickname of "The Gutter" in heavy rain. Eventually it reaches the Mangatepopo Valley track - turn right and head up the valley (the Mangatepopo Hut is a couple of minutes off of the main track at this point)

The track follows Mangatepopo stream up the valley, climbing over a succession of old lava flows from Ngauruhoe. The steep climb required to reach the Mangatepopo Saddle is now a highway of steps and gravel. From the saddle the track crosses South Crater and starts the climb up to Red Crater (awesome views!)

At the top of Red Crater a poled route to the left leads to Tongariro Summit ( a worthwhile detour if you're feeling fit and frisky.) The main track continues on past the rim of Red Crater itself. A scoria covered ridge that offers a great scree run leads down to the spectacular Emerald Lakes and then descends steeply into the Oturere Valley with views of the valley, the Kaimanawa Ranges and the Rangipo Desert. The track weaves through an endless variety of unusual jagged lava forms from early eruptions from Red Crater which filled Oturere Valley. Quite magical on a nice day, or even on a misty day! The Oturere Hut is nestled on the eastern edge of these flows and is a good place to top up water supplies.

After leaving Oturere Hut the track undulates over a number of stream valleys and open gravel fields and gradually sidles around the foot hills of Ngauruhoe descending into a valley and crossing one of the branches of the Waihohonu Stream. Continue through a beech clad valley before climbing towards the ridge top. Waihohonu Hut is in the next valley.

After leaving the hut the track follows the Waihohonu stream and gradually climbs to Tama Saddle. This area can be windy as it sits between the mountains. Lots of work by DoC in recent years has taken some of the fun out of things and turned this into a bit of a gravel highway, but there's no arguing with the splendour of the landscape that you run through. From the saddle there is a very worthwhile side trip to the striking Tama Lakes, two infilled explosion craters. The lower lake is only 5 minutes run from the junction, while the upper lake is up a steep ridge and requires a fair bit of extra effort to reach.

From here it's then pretty much all downhill to Whakapapa Village on more gravel highway.

Stunning volcanic scenery - you are running around a world-famous thermally active area.

This is the perfect habitat for a variety of New Zealand's native birds. In forested areas you may see bellbird/korimako, tui, robin/toutouwai, tomtit/miromiro, fantail/piwakawaka, and maybe New Zealand's smallest bird the rifleman/titipounamu.

You might be lucky enough to spot blue duck/whio in a stream, and in open terrain areas you may see pipits, skylarks, the rarer karearea/falcon or kaka, and even some wayward seagulls who live in the area in summer!

If you know of any public toilets near the trail start or on the route, please login and then let us know so we can update this section.

There's plenty of parking in the general area.

16 km

13 minutes

No

No

Moderate.

Being a Great Walk the trail is clearly marked at all intersections. Take care on the areas that are poled as in poor visibility it can be easy to lose the track.

Patchy.

Long-sleeved thermal top, Seam-sealed waterproof jacket, Gloves, Beanie/thermal headwear, Personal Locator Beacon (PLB), Whistle, First aid kit, Extra food for emergencies, Survival bag, Cellphone, Map, Headtorch and spare batteries, Gaiters

There is water at all the huts.

This is not a winter run - snow and ice can obliterate the track and short daylight hours make it unadvisable for all but the fittest, most experienced runners and even then only in good weather.

Areas of this track are very exposed and the weather can change fast. Sharp volcanic rocks will tear skin if you take a tumble.

Trail Legend

FH

Franklin Hamilton

has completed Tongariro Northern Circuit twice in the last year.

Learn about Trail Legends.

You and Tongariro Northern Circuit

As a VIP member you can record private notes for this trail, see all of your times and more.

Register Now

Already have an account? Login now

Trail Video
Trail Reviews

Had a great run on this trail. The sections that aren't part of the crossing were particularly amazing - very few or no people around, spectacular scenery, it made for a great day out.

I made a video of the run if anyone wants to check it out:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Df1KU8a_G4w

Matt Niederer

December 5, 2023

Epic! Mind-blowing scenery, landscape and running. Some perfect running surface, some rocky technical bits. The final push across the moorland from the last hut back to Whakapapa can go on a bit long but wow, what a trail. Should be on your must do list.

Ian Macleod

April 18, 2023

A nice loop, but very hot in summer!

Running in the direction described is definitely best, as this gets the harder stuff and the club out of the way first. Be aware that the section from the Taranaki Falls turnoff to Mangatepopo Hut is very washed out and eroded as of Dec-22 so will take you longer than expected and it’s definitely not up to great walk standard!

Daniel Parkinson

December 28, 2022

Love it. I took 29 people with packs (22kg) over the circuit in 14 hrs. Weather held for us and I recommend doing this in the first two weeks in May for consistency in the weather

Andrew Lucas

May 16, 2022

Login to submit a review

Trail Running Community

Find people who are interested in or have completed this trail run.

You must register or login to view this feature.

Register Now

Overlapping Trails

These overlap with this trail to some degree. You may wish to combine them but please note that to qualify for FKTs on these runs you should record a separate activity for each.

Taranaki Falls & Tama Lakes

Taranaki Falls & Tama Lakes

Length: 18.5km

Level: Beginner

Tongariro Switcheroo

Tongariro Switcheroo

Length: 32.0km

Level: Very Experienced

Tongariro Twist

Tongariro Twist

Length: 17.5km

Level: Intermediate

Tama Traverse

Tama Traverse

Length: 36.1km

Level: Intermediate - Experienced

Taranaki Falls Beauty

Taranaki Falls Beauty

Length: 6.3km

Level: Beginner

Other trails nearby
Dome If You Want To

Dome If You Want To

Length: 13.6km

Level: Intermediate

Mangahuia Meander

Mangahuia Meander

Length: 12.8km

Level: Beginner

Silica Rapids Quicky

Silica Rapids Quicky

Length: 6.2km

Level: Beginner

T42 Traverse

T42 Traverse

Length: 37.2km

Level: Intermediate

Find more trails and peaks nearby