SUMMER WALKinG GUIDE ONLY Welcome to the Tongariro Tongariro Northern Circuit Track, one of Northern Circuit nine unforgettable journeys. From alpine herbfields to forests, from tranquil lakes to desert TRACK GUIDE plateaux, journey through a landscape of stark contrasts with amazing views in this World Heritage site. Winding past Duration: 3–4 days Great Walks season: Mount Tongariro and Mount Ngauruhoe, you will be dazzled Distance: 43 km (loop) 23 October 2015 – 30 April 2016 by dramatic volcanic landscapes and New Zealand’s rich geological and ancestral past. Plants and wildlife Plants in the area vary considerably, from alpine herbs to thick swathes of tussocks Emerald Lakes, and flax; from the hardy, low-growing shrubs of the Rangipo Desert to dense beech forests. A diverse range of beautiful and unique alpine flowers abounds in the Photo: Daniel Deans spring and summer months. Photo: Herb Christophers North Island robin/toutouwai are sparrow-sized birds found only in New Zealand. Males have dark grey plumage while the female is dark grey- brown. They are inquisitive, friendly Plan and prepare and trusting, often coming to within a couple of metres of people. Photo: Ralph Powlesland It is important to plan and prepare your trip and be well equipped on a Great Walk. Your safety and the decisions you make while New Zealand falcon/kārearea can walking the Tongariro Northern Circuit are your responsibility. fly at speeds of more than 100 km/h Before you go, know The Outdoor Safety Code— and catch prey larger than itself. The falcon does not build a nest. Rather, 5 simple rules to help you stay safe: it makes a scrape on the ground, 1. Plan your trip under a rocky outcrop or in a forest 2. Tell someone tree into which it lays its eggs. Photo: Ian McHenry 3. Be aware of the weather 4. Know your limits Bellbird/korimako are easily recognised by their melodious song. 5. Take sufficient supplies Well camouflaged, they are usually TELL SOMEONE YOUR PLAns heard before they are seen. Females Tell someone your plans and leave a date to raise the alarm are olive-brown with a pale yellow if you haven’t returned. To raise the alarm – call NZ Police on 111. cheek stripe. Males are olive green with Find more information at adventuresmart.org.nz. a black outer wing and tail feathers. Photo: Shellie Evans Further information and bookings Tūī are unique to New Zealand. They belong to the honeyeater family feeding Visit the Great Walks website or contact your nearest mainly on nectar from flowers of native DOC Visitor Centre. plants. Tūī are important pollinators of many native trees and will fly large distances for Phone: 0800 NZ GREATWALKS (0800 694 732) their favourite food. You will recognise tūī by Email: [email protected] the distinctive white tuft under their throat. Photo: Janice McKenna Book online greatwalks.co.nz Rifleman/tītipounamu are New Zealand’s smallest bird. They are constantly on the move, producing a characteristic ‘wing- Share your experience – facebook.com/greatwalks flicking’ while foraging up and down tree Published by: Department of Conservation, Marketing Team trunks. Named after a colonial New Zealand PO Box 10420, Wellington, New Zealand | October 2015 regiment as their plumage drew similarities This publication is produced using paper sourced from with the military uniform of a rifleman. Photo: M F Soper well-managed, renewable and legally logged forests. e r t S a t a p u k O Taurewa Lake Great Walk hut Ketetahi Road End Rotoaira SH47a to Turangi Great Walk campsite 47a i g Mangatepopo n a Falls r u Serviced campsite T m a o e T tr S i g n Shelter Highlightsra hu Ta Visitor Centre 1 Soda Springs is a 15 m waterfall that emerges Great Walk beneath an old lava flow. Other tracks Blue Lake 47 2 Mount Tongariro summit Tongariro Summit Trail (1,967 m) – see interesting State Highway M a rock formations and enjoy n 1696m g a W Blue t h e a the view from the top. p ng Mount Lake Other Roads o a M T p nu ang e Pa o i R Tongariro ah kiraki S tream iv ouh S er ou 3 Red Crater (1,868 m) is the t 1967m nu r i S e tre a am highest point of the track. 0 1 Km m ¯ 2 Its colour comes from high 1 Emerald Lakes temperature oxidation of iron O in the rock. 3 tu re re S 4 Historic Waihohonu Hut Mangatepopo Road End tr e Mangatepopo Hut a Puke m built in 1903–1904, was onak Man e S gata tre wai the first hut to be built in rk a Stre a m Mount am P am l tre Tongariro National Park. a a S n Makahika to Ngauruhoe o W ti 2287m a h N a o k T Oturere Hut a p a p a n u 47 i S Tongariro M t ak 920m r ah e ika a toa m St ream Tar National Park anak i S tre am W W M a ai ir a k e a re n re S Upper 1608m g S tre a tre am Tama Lake h a Taranaki Falls loop track u m i a S t r P e an a ga m 48 ra ra Stream Whakapapa 1 Village Lower W Tama Lake a im Tongariro National a r in o Park Visitor Centre 4 S t re a m Tama Lakes Waihohonu Hut am t re Waih oho nu S Oh in e pan go Stream Iwikau SH1 to Waiouru Village m a e r t S i This map is intended as a general guide only. For up-to-date track, route, hut and safety information visit www.doc.govt.nz and/or your local DOC Visitor Centre before you travel. ir ip ir P Te SUMMER WALKinG GUIDE ONLY Side trip – Mount Tongariro summit Oturere Hut to Waihohonu Hut (1967 m) 3 hr, 7.5 km After leaving Oturere Hut the track undulates Track guide 1 hr 30 min (return) over a number of stream valleys and open gravel fields. Plant life here has been Tongariro Northern Circuit can See interesting volcanic rock formations and enjoy fantastic views of the mountains and constantly repressed by volcanic eruptions, be walked in either direction. landscape – including Mount Ruapehu from altitude and climate. The track is well marked and Tongariro summit. At Red Crater, turn left, and The track gradually sidles around the foothills signposted, but some sections may follow the pole-marked trail to the Summit of of Ngauruhoe, descending into a valley and be steep, rough or muddy. Winter Mount Tongariro. The trail undulates another crossing a branch of the Waihohonu Stream. 100 metres up to the summit of the volcano. Continue through a beech-clad valley before conditions make the track more climbing towards the ridge top. Waihohonu challenging, and appropriate Hut is in the next valley. equipment and experience is Waihohonu Hut to Whakapapa necessary. See the Safety section Village for more information. 14.3 km, 5 hr The track follows the Waihohonu stream and The times are approximate and will vary gradually climbs to Tama Saddle (1,300 m). according to your fitness, direction of travel Photo: Kate, DOC and the weather. This area can be very windy as wind is The steep climb known as the Devil’s Staircase, channelled between the mountains. Whakapapa Village to required to reach the Mangatepopo Saddle Whakapapa Village is about two hours from Mangatepopo Hut rewards climbers with views of the valley and, the Tama Lakes junction. After the first hour 3 hr, 8.5 km if clear, Mount Taranaki to the west. From the the track meets the Taranaki Falls loop walk. Begin behind the Chateau Tongariro at saddle the track crosses South Crater – not a Follow the lower section of the track down the Ngauruhoe Place and go along the lower true crater but a drainage basin between the steps and along the Wairere stream back to Taranaki Falls track. After about 20 min the surrounding volcanic landforms. the village. Alternatively take the upper section Mangatepopo track branches off from the The trail from South Crater up to Red Crater of track through open tussock and shrubland Taranaki Falls track. is steep and crosses loose material for back to the village. Heavily eroded in places, the track crosses much of the way. Care must be taken in freezing many stream beds. It can be boggy and conditions, as the steep slopes surrounding the Side trip – Tama Lakes (1,314 m) challenging in wet weather but stream levels are trail may be icy even if the trail is ice-free. is unlikely to make the track impassable or unsafe. The main track continues past the rim of Red 20 min return to Lower Tama from the Crater, offering splendid views of Oturere junction; 1 hr 30 min return to Upper Tama Ahead and to the right is Pukekaikiore, thought from the junction. to be one of the older vents of the Tongariro Valley and the Kaimanawa Ranges to the east. Two in-filled explosion craters are named complex. To the left is Pukeonake, a low scoria From the high point of Red Crater, the trail after Tamatea, the high chief of the Tākitimu cone. Both Pukekaikiore and Pukeonake descends down a steep scree slope to the Canoe, who explored the area six centuries witnessed the last ice age when glaciers from Emerald Lakes.