The Tongariro Alpine Crossing is a trek over the extended Mt. Tongariro. It begins at the southern edge by Mt. Ngauruhoe and continues generally northward for 17km toward the northern edge. The track is well marked and well populated with fellow trekers.

Along the way is an array of unique volcanic scenery to to fascinate you. Typically the trek can be expected to take 8 hours. If you are inclined to dawdle and/or take in the scenery then allow longer.

To start with you should have a moderate level of fitness. There are plenty of web sites that will give you more detail about "the crossing" including maps, lists of what you should be taking to get you safely to the other end, and also explaining the geology of the region. http://www.tongarirocrossing.org.nz is as good as any.
DOC (http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/tracks-and-walks/) is also another useful one.

Of course, don't forget your camera, fully charged and with plenty of memory (or film).

My interest was in having a good look (and hence I have a huge number of pictures), and getting to the other end. This page has a lot of detailed pictures - it would not do justice to the area to make them any smaller. I hope you enjoy this very small collection.

Once you have walked up the Mangatepopo valley and then climbed the 300m Devil's Staircase, you get to have a leisurely stroll across the South Crater, flanked by Mt. Ngauruhoe to the south. We did the trek on a Saturday, after three weeks of bad weather. At the start it was a bit like a railway station (but they did spread out over time).

Across the crater there was another climb up the rim of the crater (shown) and on up by as much again. On the exposed ridge the wind was very strong and cold.

Up on top after the second climb and looking back you see across the South Crater towards Mt. Ngauruhoe and back towards the top of the Devil's Staircase (saddle to the right of Ngauruhoe).

From there you can take a side trip to the summit of Mt. Tongariro. From a little way up that trail looking across at the main trail you see these "ant" like people following those in front, past the Red Crater and up to the high point of the trek. It looks like a lunar landscape!

From roughly the same location but swinging more to the north you get the view across the Central Crater towards the Blue Lake. The North Crater is just visible on the left and the Emerald Lakes on the right. Across the floor of the crater is a dark lava flow.

The way down from Mt. Tongariro is over the saddle between the Blue Lake and the North Crater

Returning to the high point and looking down towards the Emerald Lakes you get this fantastic view. Many people are having their lunch around the edges of the lakes. A great place to have a rest.

You can see the trail continuing on and up towards the Blue Lake.

Commencing the climb up to the Blue Lake and looking back, you get this great view up towards the Red Crater, with Mt. Ngauruhoe in the background. You can see the raw power of these volcanic events.

Note the trail down the ridge from the high point toward the Emerald Lakes. A nice opportunity to try your hand at "scree running."

At that stage we had run out of time and still had ~9km to go. So I'm afraid the camera had to stay in the bag. But we got the the pickup point only 15 minutes late and our van had not yet arrived to collect us.

Every such achievement deserves its rewards and ours was an appropriately worded tee shirt (along with wine and a welcome meal.)

We will be back to revisit and explore the areas we rushed past. Perhaps there will be time to climb Ngauruhoe!