Plan and prepare TONGARIRO NORTHERN CIRCUIT Duration: 3–4 days Great Walks season: Distance: 45 km (loop) 19 October 2018 – 30 April 2019 ELEVATION PROFILE & TRACK GUIDE TONGARIRO Oturere 1800 m 26 bunks 14 campers NORTHERN 1600 m Mangatepopo 20 bunks 17 campers 1400 m CIRCUIT Whakapapa Village From alpine herbfields to forests, 1200 m and tranquil lakes to desert-like 1100 m plateaux, you’ll journey through a 9.4 km / 4 hr 12 km / 5 hr landscape of stark contrasts with amazing views at every turn in this dual World Heritage site. Winding its way past Mount Tongariro and Mount Ngauruhoe, you will be dazzled on this circuit by dramatic volcanic landscapes and New Zealand’s rich geological and ancestral past. To the north is Lake Taupo, to the Day 1: Whakapapa Village Day 2: Mangatepopo Hut to east the rugged Kaimanawa range. to Mangatepopo Hut Oturere Hut On a clear day you may even catch a glimpse of Mount Taranaki on 4 hours, 9.4 km 5 hours, 12 km the west coast. Your journey begins by making You join the popular Tongariro your way across the eroded Alpine Crossing on the second day, The Tongariro Northern Circuit can be plains of the Tongariro volcanic crossing remnants of lava flows and walked in either direction. The track complex, a series of explosion climbing steeply up Te Arawhata to is well marked and signposted, but craters and volcanic cones and the expansive Red Crater. Here you’ll some sections may be steep, rough or peaks. Venturing through a be dazzled by the aptly named Emerald landscape carved out by ancient Lakes (Ngā Rotopounamu), and a muddy. This brochure describes a 4-day lava flows and stream beds, you’ll side trip (30-minute return) will take clockwise alpine hike for independent, be dwarfed by the massive cone you to the equally amazing Blue Lake non-guided walkers, starting and of Mount Ngauruhoe on your (Te Wai Whakaata o te Rangihīroa). finishing at Whakapapa Village, during right. For the final hour the track These lakes are tapu or sacred to Ngāti the Great Walks season (19 October leads you around Pukekaikiore, Tuwharetoa. Please do not touch the 2018 – 30 April 2019). one of Tongariro’s older water. Descending into Oturere valley, Information about parking restrictions steam vents, before reaching you’ll pass through a landscape of other- is available from the Tongariro Mangatepopo Hut. worldly lava forms before reaching National Park Visitor Centre or Oturere Hut. the website at www.doc.govt.nz/ tongarironortherncircuit-gettingthere. Outside the Great Walks season (May to October) walking conditions are more hazardous – see the safety information. Duration: 3 – 4 days Distance: 45 km (loop) Great Walks season: 19 October 2018 – 30 April 2019 hut campsite car park Tongariro, shrouded in alpine Oturere 26 bunks mists, its gnarled and battle-scarred 14 campers majesty reaching to the sky. Ancient stories of epic bygone battles, thunder Waihohonu Whakapapa and lightning relive the time when the 28 bunks Village 12 campers 32 campers Great Mountains fought for the hand of the beautiful Pihanga. Tongariro emerged victorious. A story of love and devotion that has spanned millennia, from before 8.1 km / 3 hr 15.4 km / 5 hr 45 min the ancient mists of time, from a time where the mountains ruled upon the land. This is the world of Ngāti Hikairo ki Tongariro. These are the stories of Ngāti Tuwharetoa and, more importantly, these are memories of our mountains, of our Gods and of our tribal history and identity. They are carried on each mountain breath, every facet of the landscape reflects this epic past, each shadow holds a story, each breeze carries the whispers of yesterday. Tongariro the Day 3: Oturere Hut Day 4: Waihohonu Hut to spring of passion, Tongariro the devoted to Waihohonu Hut Whakapapa Village lover, Tongariro the source of life-giving waters, Tongariro the Warrior Mountain, 3 hours, 8.1 km 5 hours 45 min, 15.4 km Tongariro the soul of Tuwharetoa. We the Tangata Whenua – The People On day 3 the circuit You’ll begin your final day following the of the Land – welcome you to our world. continues through this Waihohonu Stream as you head west It is a world of reciprocity and respect, of unique environment. After towards Tama saddle, cradled by the guardianship and devotion, of stunning crossing stream valleys and towering Mount Ngauruhoe on your landscapes and epic stories, of deep open gravel fields, the track right and Mount Ruapehu on your left. reverence and spirituality. May the gradually sidles around On reaching the Tama saddle, a detour guardians of our mountains keep you safe, the foothills of Ngauruhoe, will take you to the beautiful Tama lakes may the memory of this experience lie before descending into a (Ngā Puna a Tama) – empty craters now warm in your hearts forever. beech-forested valley and filled with azure blue water. From here, crossing a branch of the you’ll pass the tumbling Taranaki Falls Waihohonu Stream. before returning to your starting point A steep climb takes you to at Whakapapa Village. the top of the ridge where Ko Ngāti Tuwharetoa te Iwi you’ll spot tonight’s stay Ngāti Tuwharetoa is the tribe at Waihohonu Hut. Ko Ngāti Hikairo ki Tongariro te Hapū Ngāti Hikairo ki Tongariro is the sub-tribe Te Ngaehe Wanikau (on behalf of Te Rūnanganui o Ngāti Hikairo ki Tongariro) COVER: Emerald Lakes, Daniel Deans ABOVE LEFT TO RIGHT: Track to Mangatepopo Hut, John Strother Emerald Lakes, DOC/90 Seconds; Waihohonu Hut, Janette Asche Taranaki Falls, DOC/90 Seconds RIGHT: Mount Tongariro, Bubs Smith Pare (artwork), Hayz Isherwood MAIN PHOTO: View to Mount Ngauruhoe, Brendan Bombaci (www.kairologic.com) e r t S a t a p u k O Taurewa Lake Rotoaira Ketetahi Road End SH47a to Turangi Great Walk hut 47a i g Mangatepopo n a Falls r Great Walk campsite u T m HIGHLIGHTS a o e T tr S i g Serviced campsite n ra u h Ta Visitor Centre Toilets Great Walk 47 Other tracks M a n g 1696m a W Blue Lake t h e a (Te Wai Whakaata p ng Mount State Highway o a o te Rangihīroa) M T p nu ang e P o i a akiraki S tream Riv Tongariro hou S er hou t nu r 1967m i S e tre Other Roads a am m Emerald Lakes (Ngā Rotopounamu) 0 1 Km ¯ Red O tu Crater re re S Mangatepopo Road End tr e Mangatepopo Hut a m Pukeon M ake ang S ataw tre ai rk a Stre a m Mount am P am l tre a a S n Makahika to Ngauruhoe o W ti a h 2287m N a o k T Oturere Hut a p a p a n u 47 i S Tongariro Ma t r ka 920m e h ika a toa Photo: Peter Langlands m St ream Ta National Park rana ki S tre am W W M a ai ir a k e a re n re S 1623m g S tre a tre am Upper Tama h a u m i a S t r P e an a 48 Tama lakes ga m ra ra tream (Ngā Puna a Tama) S Whakapapa 1 Village W Lower Tama a im Tongariro National a r in o S Park Visitor Centre t re a m Waihohonu Hut 1 Look for the New Zealand falcon/kārearea, am t re capable of flying at speeds over 100 km/h Waih oho nu S and catching prey up to 6 times their Oh SH1 to Waiouru in e pan go Stream body weight. Iwikau Village m a e r t S i ir Brush up on your botanical knowledge – ip 2 ir P Te Photo: stokedforsaturday.com the plants in the area vary considerably: alpine herbs, tussocks, flaxes, low- growing shrubs, dense beech forests and, during summer, a diverse range of beautiful and unique alpine flowers. 3 Take in Taranaki Falls. Tumbling over the edge of a large lava flow that erupted from Ruapehu 15,000 years ago, the falls plunge 20 metres into a boulder-ringed pool. 4 Drop into the historic Waihohonu Hut, the oldest existing mountain hut in New Zealand. It was the first hut built in Tongariro National Park in 1904, and the base for the first recreational skiing. It was in active use for over 60 years. 5 Side trip to Tama lakes (Ngā Puna a Tama) (1,314 m) Photo: Daniel Deans Photo: Janette Asche From the junction: 20 min return to Lower Tama; 1 hr 30 min return to Upper Tama. Two in-filled explosion craters are named after Tamatea, the high chief of the Tākitimu Canoe, who explored the area six centuries ago. Lower Tama’s volcanic debris is slowly washing in and filling the crater. The Upper Tama lake is reputed to be very deep. Beware of strong crosswinds on the ridgelines up to the Upper Tama lake lookout. Photo: Jimmy Johnson Cape Reinga e r t S a t a p u k O Taurewa Lake Rotoaira Ketetahi Road End SH47a to Turangi Great Walk hut 47a i g Mangatepopo n a Falls r Great Walk campsite u T m a o e T tr S Information about parkingi restrictions g Kaitaia Serviced campsite n ra u h is available from the TongariroTa Visitor Centre Kerikeri National Park Visitor Centre or the Toilets website at www.doc.govt.nz/ Kaikohe Great Walk tongarironortherncircuit-gettingthere.