Guided Tongariro Walks & Hikes
The Tongariro National Park has Dual World Heritage status and includes the Tongariro Alpine Crossing and the 3 Day Northern Circuit which are part of the Department of Conservation ‘Great Walks’ network. The three active andesitic volcanoes, Mt. Tongariro (1967m), Mt. Ngauruhoe (2291m) and Mt. Ruapehu (2797m), are majestic and dominate the National Park.
Here at Adrift, we’ve been providing guided walking experiences for over 20 years with qualified instructors. We operate all year, summer and winter and whether you’re a novice or keen adventurer we have a tour to suit. If time is limited or you are unable to spend the whole day walking the Tongariro Crossing, then the Half Day or 2 hour Pre Sunset Guided Walk is for you. Those looking for a challenge? Make sure you tick Mt Ruapehu Summit Plateau off your list. Read on to find out more about each of our tours and see which one is best for you.
Tongariro Crossing Guided Walk
This 20.4km trek is New Zealand’s best one-day walk, and takes about 7-8 hours to complete. The landscape on Tongariro is peppered with different coloured and shaped craters that have been active at different periods, scoured volcanic rocks, mountain springs and brightly coloured Emerald lakes and Blue Lake.
Summer offers a majestic landscape of recent resultant volcanic activity. There is a vast array of colours and textures created from Sulphur, Aluminium, Silica, and many other mineral deposits released from within the Earth’s Crust. Winter offers the opportunity to walk through the magnificent snow-covered landscape. No outdoor experience is necessary, all training is given on the day for a fantastic alpine experience. Explore our group tours if you’re traveling alone or looking to meet and make friends with people from all around the world, alternatively we have private tours where everybody you walk with will be somebody you know.
Mt Ruapehu Summit Plateau Guided Hike
Have lunch on the summit plateau of New Zealand’s highest (2797m) active andesitic volcano from where you can gaze down into the milky-blue geothermal waters of the crater lake. The last eruption on Mt. Ruapehu was 2007. As you climb above the clouds through rugged volcanic terrain, you’ll see sweeping views of Tongariro National Park and the entire volcanic zone.The lake changes colour from an amazing deep green to pale blue to solid dark grey depending on the craters temperature. Mt. Ruapehu has eight small glaciers on its high flanks and they are the only glaciers in the North Island. Explore our group tours if you’re traveling alone or looking to meet and make friends with people from all around the world, alternatively we have private tours where everybody you walk with will be somebody you know.
Half Day Tongariro Alpine Guided Walk
If time is limited or you are unable to spend the whole day walking the Tongariro Crossing, then the 4-hour Premium Half Day Tongariro Guided Walk is for you. Start on the Tongariro Alpine Crossing track and walk amongst the volcanoes up to the Soda Springs waterfall. Mt. Ngauruhoe’s cold water springs create a small oasis of lush yellow mountain buttercups and white foxgloves, and the pure Soda Springs allows us to refill our water bottles with Tongariro pure spring water.
Pre Sunset Guided Short Walk
The sunset tour is an easy 2 hour walk amongst the Tongariro volcanoes, a superb way to experience the Tongariro National Park and enjoy this stunning time of day. Enjoy a glass of New Zealand wine while taking in the sights of the Taranaki Falls, an impressive waterfall tumbling 20 meters over the edge of a large lava flow, which erupted from Ruapehu 15,000 years ago. Watch the sunset lighting up a majestic alpine setting as we walk back to your personalised pick up.
