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Best trails in Tongariro National Park

Best trails in Tongariro National Park

4.4(14,444 reviews)

·

New Zealand
: 
#1 of 13 national parks

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Want to find the best trails in Tongariro National Park for an adventurous hike or a family trip? AllTrails has 69 great trails for hiking, walking, and backpacking and more. Enjoy hand-curated trail maps, along with reviews and photos from nature lovers like you. Ready for your next hike or bike ride? Explore one of 13 easy hiking trails in Tongariro National Park that are great for the whole family. Looking for a more strenuous hike? We've got you covered, with trails ranging from 6 to 9,160 feet in elevation gain. Whatever you have planned for the day, you can find the perfect trail for your next trip to Tongariro National Park.

Top trails

1
#1 - Tongariro Alpine Crossing
4.8(5538)
•Hard
•12.4 mi
To experience what many people call the "World's Greatest Day Hike", you will need no permits, however, transportation arrangements must be made for both ends of the hike, so make sure you do some planning! You must also be mindful of shuttle pick-up times if you decide to summit Mt. Tongariro or Mt. Ngauruhoe (both cannot be done within the same day). There are sections of the hike that are considered active volcano areas, and the trail has optional side trips to Mount Tongariro and Mount...
2
#2 - Taranaki Falls Walk
4.8(2183)
•Moderate
•3.7 mi
•Est. 1h 34m
This is a popular waterfall walk in Tongariro National Park. Start your walk at the entrance, just before the car park. This track is very well-marked and mostly flat, with just a few stairs. The upper loop track has great views of Mount Ruapehu and Ngauruhoe. Highly recommended for family day walks.
3
#3 - Tama Lakes Track via Taranaki Falls
4.8(1042)
•Moderate
•10.8 mi
•Est. 4h 57m
This track is an extension of the Taranaki Falls Loop. It's a beautiful long walk to the Tama Lakes (an old explosion craters between Ruapehu and Ngauruhoe). The last part up to the upper Tama Lake is the challenging section (or, better to say, the way down) because it's slippery on the loose rocks. This trail is not as crowded as the Tongariro Crossing and offers beautiful scenery! Sun protection, a hat, and a windbreaker jacket may be helpful since there's no forest after the Taranaki...
4
#4 - Blue Lake via Tongariro Alpine Crossing
4.8(485)
•Hard
•11.9 mi
This is a challenging track from Mangetepopo Road end carpark to the Blue Lake located in Tongariro National Park. The walk starts off nice and gently and gradually started to climb. The climb is challenging with the stairs and maneuvering around rocks and loose gravel, but the lake at the top is absolutely stunning and totally worth the climb.
5
#5 - Soda Springs Walk
4.6(289)
•Moderate
•5.9 mi
•Est. 2h 41m
The Soda Springs Falls Walk is located in Tongariro National Park. A short detour from the Tongariro Crossing takes you close to a 15 meters high segmented waterfall. Don't forget to bring plenty of water and a hat - there's not much shade along the way. The track starts from the end of Mangatepopo Road (a 4WD vehicle is recommended on this bumpy road with cracks). A carpark located a the trailhead is restricted to 4 hours from Labour weekend in October to the end of April.
6
#6 - Tawhai Falls Walk
4.7(571)
•Easy
•0.5 mi
This is a short walk to the beautiful, 13-meter-high, Tawhai Falls located in Tongariro National Park. A few steps down you will find a perfect swim stop with refreshing mountain water temperature. The water here is clear and blue. Access from Bruce Road. A small carpark is located at the trailhead.
7
#7 - Blue Lake and Red Crater from Ketetahi Carpark
4.8(224)
•Hard
•14.2 mi
•Est. 8h 29m
This track follows part of Tongariro Alpine Crossing and takes you from Ketetahi Carpark to the 1868-meter-high Red Crater (still active volcano located in Tongariro National Park) with beautiful views of the lakes at from the top. Be careful of your footing on the loose rock and snow in colder months. As usual in Tongariro, make sure you have appropriate clothing for rapidly changing weather conditions.
8
#8 - Upper Tama Lakes Track
4.7(235)
•Hard
•10.6 mi
This track takes you from Whakapapa Village to Upper Tama Lakes, located in Tongariro National Park. The last part up to the upper Tama Lake is the challenging section (or, better to say, the way down) because it's slippery on the loose rocks. This trail is not as crowded as the Tongariro Crossing and offers beautiful scenery! Sun protection, a hat, and a windbreaker jacket may be helpful since there's no forest after the Taranaki Falls. Wear sturdy hiking boots.
9
#9 - Tongariro Northern Circuit
4.8(326)
•Hard
•27.5 mi
Tongariro Northern Circuit is one of the New Zealand Great Walks located in the heart of North Island in Tongariro National Park. This volcanic park is full of unique lunar landscapes, old craters, lakes, and steaming hot pools. The loop can be walked in both directions and offers incredible views and stunning scenery along the way. There are 3 huts with campsites (bookings in advance during the Great Walks season are required), and most hikers take 4 days/3 nights or 3 days/2 nights to...
10
#10 - Silica Rapids Loop Walk
4.5(320)
•Moderate
•4.2 mi
•Est. 1h 54m
This loop starts and ends in Whakapapa Village in Tongariro National Park. The last section of this track follows Bruce Road. To avoid walking the road, a carpark is located at the trailhead where you can park a second vehicle. You can also start from Whakapapa Holiday Park. Looking for an out-and-back trail of Silica Rapids? Check it out here: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/new-zealand/manawatu-wanganui/silica-rapids-walk--2. This is a well-formed, mainly flat and slightly undulating track...
Showing results 1–10 of 69
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Trail reviews for Tongariro National Park

21,250 trailgoers Busiest in January
David Fenchel
Mar 11, 2025•Hiking
Bathrooms availableGreat conditionsGreat views

We took a round trip shuttle from Tongariro National Park Town, which was less expensive ($50-60 NZD) and more convenient than spotting a car at the end and taking one way shuttle to trailhead. The trek was as expected, if not a bit easier due to the very well maintained trails. In total, we hiked about 12.5 miles with almost 2,800 feet of elevation gain. We had “four seasons”, mostly in-and-out of the clouds on the south side, and mostly sunny on the north side of the range.

Tongariro Alpine Crossing
Willem Doodeman-Beamsley
Jun 9, 2025•Walking
Bathrooms availableGreat conditionsGreat views

Easy short walk from end car park of the Tongariro Crossing, Lookout for sidetrack when you hear waterfall, no sign marking turnoff, just a little post in the ground. Best time to go is out of great walks season as there will be less trampers and more parks available.

Difficulty: Easy
Ketetahi Falls Track
AllTrails User
Jun 9, 2025•Hiking
Easy to parkNot crowdedBathrooms availableGreat conditionsGreat views

Having done the Tongariro Alpine Crossing the day before, this was a great trail to get different views of the mountains - and the Tama Lakes were stunning. Set off early and was the only person at Upper Tama Lakes, but walked past lots of people on the way back. Track is very exposed so plan to weather accordingly.

Difficulty: Moderate
Tama Lakes Track via Taranaki Falls
Cel C
May 6, 2025•Hiking
Easy to parkNot crowdedBathrooms availableGreat conditionsGreat views

The track is extremely well maintained, with multiple restrooms available at various points. It is easier if you start from the Ketetahi Car Park. There is one section with loose stones that can be slippery—using two hiking sticks is recommended to prevent falls. Highly recommended place to stay is the Tongariro River Retreat!

Parking: Free, Large lot
Tongariro Alpine Crossing
Camille Patureaux
Apr 23, 2025•Hiking
Bathrooms availableGreat conditionsGreat views

Spectacular hike with unreal landscapes ! Quite a lot of steps in the beginning but they are quite regular. I couldn’t reach the summit of Mount Tongariro because at 8.2km (so 1 km before the summit), there was a sign saying « Go back » (see picture attached) and so I guessed it was related to the sanctity of the mount and didn’t dare continue. Instead of that, I went up to the peak near the Red Crater. Did the whole in 4h with a short lunch break and by running a bit on the descent.

Difficulty: Hard
Blue Lake via Tongariro Alpine Crossing
Ryan Mack
Apr 4, 2025•Hiking
Not crowdedBathrooms available

It was raining but enough of the trail was covered that temporary reprieves made it more than worth it. Low visibility but at least I was able to get outside with the Tongariro Crossing closed due to wind. Wind isn’t bad on this trail.

Taranaki Falls Walk
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Frequently asked questions

Where is the best place to hike in Tongariro National Park?

According to users from AllTrails.com, the best place to hike in Tongariro National Park is Tongariro Alpine Crossing, which has a 4.8 star rating from 5,538 reviews. This trail is 12.4 mi long with an elevation gain of 2,798 ft.

What is the longest trail in Tongariro National Park?

According to AllTrails.com, the longest trail in Tongariro National Park is Round the Mountain Track. This trail is estimated to be 44.9 mi long.

How many trails are in Tongariro National Park?

There are 69 trails in Tongariro National Park. These trails have an average 4.4-star rating from 14,444 AllTrails community reviews.

Which trail has the most elevation gain in Tongariro National Park?

If you're looking for elevation gain, Tongariro National Park has you covered. Round the Mountain Track boasts the most elevation gain with 9,160 ft of total ascent. The park's runner-up is Tongariro Northern Circuit, which will get you 5,229 ft of elevation gain.

Are there camping trails available in Tongariro National Park?

According to AllTrails.com, there are 26 camping trails in Tongariro National Park and the most popular is Tongariro Northern Circuit with an average 4.8 star rating from 326 community reviews.

Are there running trails available in Tongariro National Park?

According to AllTrails.com, there are 15 running trails in Tongariro National Park and the most popular is Taranaki Falls Walk with an average 4.8 star rating from 2,183 community reviews.

Are there biking trails available in Tongariro National Park?

According to AllTrails.com, there are 4 biking trails in Tongariro National Park and the most popular is Ohakune Old Coach Road with an average 4.6 star rating from 149 community reviews.

Suitability