The Tongariro Crossing in New Zealand
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With solidified lava, craters, snowfields, hot springs and brightly colored lakes the Tongariro National Park is an unique place in the world. That is one of the reasons why the Tongariro Crossing is called the most beautiful walk in New Zealand. For anyone who has been there it is guaranteed to be one of the most beautiful places on earth, but for anyone who has never been there it may still be a big question mark. So it's time for a short article about this amazing place!
Tongariro National Park was the first park to appear twice on UNESCO's World Heritage List, mainly because of its beautiful nature and for the cultural and spiritual value. With 7600 square kilometer national park and three active volcanoes you can spend many days in the park. The highest mountain, the volcano Ruapehu is permanently covered in snow and with seven glaciers you will enjoy breath taking views.
If you have only one day we recommend to do the The Tongariro Crossing. It is with 20km (12.4 miles) easy to hike in one day and basically brings you all the beauty of the Tongariro National Park, such as the Red Crater, Mount Tongariro, the Emerald Lakes and Blue Lake. Add to that the views of Mount Ngauruhoe and Mount Ruapehu and you have a hike you won't soon forget!
Where to stay
If you are looking for a great place to stay near the Tongariro National Park we recommend the Ruapehu Country Lodge in Ohakune. It is located within a 15-minute drive of Tongariro National Park and is super quiet.
The food is delicious, rooms were gorgeous and you will feel totally at home at this place. On booking.com they get an average rating of 9.5.
Best time to visit
The official hiking season starts late October until end of April. However, best months with the most stable weather for hiking are during summer from December to February. We recommend visiting the crossing in March. The regular holidays are over and you'll appreciate the quieter trails and the weather is still fine.
Snow in winter (June, July) and at higher altitudes until spring is very common. In summer the mean daily temperature is about 20 degrees Celsius (68°F) can drop to 10 °C (50° F). In March, April, and November the average temperature is about 17°C (63° F) and can drop to 10°C (50° F) and lower. Click here for more climate information about Turangi.