⛰️ Easy-Medium Tongariro Northern Circuit ⛰️

Difficulty: Easy-Medium. 4-7 hour days, Great Walk quality track. This is intentionally a beginner multi-day trip, suitable if you are decently fit but have no tramping experience, or limited overnight experience. All are welcome of course - especially if you're a driver with a car!

Max People: 5, up to 10 if we can get a second car. Trip priority will go to drivers.

Accomodation: The Great Walk system requires you to book a space for either huts or campsites, and these aren't transferrable so you have to book your own accomodation. The rates are different depending on whether you are international or if you want to sleep on a bed or camp outside. Book which ever option you want ASAP here, as they book out fast - our skewed start is because every Fri-Sun is booked out near instantly.

Great Walk Booking: New Zealand - DOC Booking Service - Great Walk

• Book Mangatepopo Hut/Campsite on Sun 30/3/25
• Book Oturere Hut/Campsite on Mon 31/3/25

Costs: Around $150ish in fuel split among your car. Campsites are around $20ish, hut spaces are around $50 per night. Group dinners are a possibility, will aim to be cheap. 

Bring: You must bring everything on the overnight tramp list, your own lunches and breakfasts, and plenty of snacks. Warm and waterproof layers are a must, the Northern Circuit is an alpine desert environment that is cold and windy at night. We'll have tents for those who are camping. Bring some togs for the hot pools at the end.

Itinerary

Day 1 - Sunday Depart from the Hunter Carpark early to make the 5 hour drive to the Whakapapa Visitor Centre. We'll walk 3 hours to the Mangatapopo Hut.

Day 2 - Monday Mangatapopo Hut over the Tongariro Alpine Crossing to the Oturere Hut - the highlight of the trip.

Day 3 - Tuesday Big walk today - We finish the circuit going from Oturere back to Whakapapa, approximately 7 hours, but its also very flat. There's a waterfall swimming hole along the way. We'll drive to a nearby hot pool to soak in, get a feed in town, then camp at Whakapapa Holiday Park, Mangahuia, or Mangawhero for the night.

Day 4 - Wednesday Drive back to Wellington in the morning, and arrive back around midday. If we have people that absolutely need to get back to Welly asap (e.g. for exams or work), we can leave earlier and arrive late Tuesday night, but I prefer to avoid that for road safety reasons.