Private Sunrise Tongariro Crossing Guided Walk

Experience the night sky with the clarity that only the pre-dawn can achieve. See the sun rise at Red Crater and enjoy breakfast alfresco in the quietest time of the day on the crossing.

Located in the Tongariro National Park, a UNESCO Dual World Heritage site, the Tongariro Crossing is New Zealand’s best one-day walk. This 20.4km trek takes around 7-8 hours to complete. Run exclusively for you and your family or friends, private tours are more flexible and can accommodate different fitness levels and avoid weather-exposed sections.

Emerald Lakes in Winter
Tongariro in Winter
Mt Ngauruhoe
Blue Lake

Tour Times

Summer 1 October – 31 May

Meet at the Adrift Tongariro Base: Departure times vary daily and will be advised in accordance with the changing sunrise times but are 4.5 hours prior to sunrise and vary between 1:30am – 3:00am.
Return: These vary in accordance with the changing sunrise times but vary between 9.30am-11.00am.

Tour starts and finishes at the Adrift Tongariro Base 53 Carroll St, National Park Village.

Trip departures available summer only (1 October – 31 May) on application and confirmation.

We endeavor to remove the risk of clients not having adequate clothing and equipment for the conditions. To achieve this we request clients to meet at the Adrift Tongariro base to improve both safety and service as this is outfitted with all equipment and clothing needs for the conditions of the day. Adrift Tongariro provides our vehicles to transport you and the guides from the Adrift Tongariro base in National Park village to the start of the walk, and at the end of the tour we transport you from the end of the walk back to the Adrift Tongariro base in National Park Village. Once you arrive back at our base you then return in your vehicle back to your accommodation. You can park your vehicle outside the Adrift Tongariro base safely, at no cost for the day.

Included

  • Private Guide/s
  • Transport. Between the start and end of the tour and the Adrift Tongariro base included.
  • All additional boot and clothing hire. See the Fitness and Gear Requirements tab below for recommended gear and gear available from Adrift Tongariro.

Not Included

Breakfast is not included in this tour however a Sustenance Pack is available as a separate booked item at an additional cost at the time of booking. We have two options: standard or vegetarian. Any other dietary requirements are not able to be catered for so clients must bring their own.

Private Accommodation Transfers

Accommodation transfers are not available with this tour.

Fitness Requirements

A reasonably good level of fitness is required. If you are concerned about your fitness please let your guide know before commencing the walk, as there are options we can discuss with you. Walking time is about 7 – 8  hours including stops and a 15 minute stop for lunch. Our walking pace is about 3 kms per hour which is easily achievable for just about everyone.  During winter we are limited for daylight hours and therefore need to keep a moderate pace during the day with an additional half hour stop to fit crampons and instruct in their correct use. No alpine experience is required. See Terms and Conditions.

Fitness and age are inversely proportional, unfortunately.
0-12 Years: Please call Adrift Tongariro for approval.
13-40 Years: The fitter you are the less one hurts the day after, just about everyone in this age bracket should be able to get over in the time allocated, unless exercise is a dirty word.
41-55 Years: Most should be able to get over in the time allowed, some may hurt the following day.
55+ Years: A good average level of fitness for the age is needed to ensure one can make it over in the time permitted.

Gear Requirements

  • Water (1-1.5 litres)
  • Personal medications (e.g. Asthma Inhaler, blister protection etc)
  • Sunscreen, sunglasses
  • Backpack per person
  • Hiking boots
  • Thermal longs and/or walking trousers & over-trousers
  • 3 warm top layers (wool, merino, thermals, fleece, soft shell etc. are good layers)
  • Waterproof raincoat
  • Warm hat and gloves
  • Own meals if not ordered via Adrift at time of booking

Gear Hire

Adrift Tongariro has available for hire personal equipment footwear and clothing to supplement that which you don’t have and need including boots, socks, thermal longs, fleece longs, waterproof pants, thermal tops, fleece tops, waterproof tops, warm gloves, warm hats, sun hats, sunglasses, backpacks and walking poles.

This is a Tongariro Alpine guided tour. We do not guarantee reaching the Ketetahi end. Safety regarding weather, avalanche, ice and hypothermia are taken into consideration when securing our exact route for the day.

In the event that Adrift Tongariro considers the weather to be of such a nature to expose the group to undue risk then Adrift Tongariro will defer the tour to a day tour.  PLEASE ALLOW FOR THIS IN YOUR ITINERARY.  If a day tour does not proceed and an alternative tour is not viable then a refund of the tour cost will be given, booking fee is non refundable. If Adrift Tongariro defer a sunrise tour to a day tour the difference in the cost of these two tours will be refunded. A minimum of two people are required to offer this private tour. See Terms and Conditions.

Tongariro Crossing Sunrise

PRIVATE

Guided Walk

$ 850 per person

REFUNDS AVAILABLE*

Reschedule for up to 12 months

*Subject to Terms and Conditions

Summer only 1 October – 31 May
On application and confirmation

All additional boot and clothing hire included

Transport
Between the start and end of the walk and the Adrift Tongariro base included

Accommodation transfers
Not available with this tour

Sustenance pack an optional extra

Interested in a group tour?
Find out more

Reconfirmation

It is essential all clients phone the Adrift Tongariro base between 10:00am – 5:00pm the day prior to the trip date to confirm the tour departure time and discuss exact timings. +64 7892 2751.

What to expect on the day

After calling to reconfirm the day before your tour, meet the team at the Adrift Tongariro base the morning of the tour. Departure times vary daily and will be advised in accordance with the changing sunrise times but are 4.5 hours prior to sunrise and vary between 1:30am – 3:00am. Clients can park their vehicle outside the Adrift Tongariro base safely, at no cost for the day.

When you arrive, your private guide will be waiting to greet you and check everyone in, go over the day’s trip conditions and assess and provide the required equipment, and additional clothing and boots if needed. Once we meet you, you are under our guidance so you can then relax and enjoy the journey with Adrift.

Your trip will then be tailored to you to accommodate different fitness levels and walking pace along with your customised pick up at the end of the walk to return to the Adrift Tongariro base in National Park Village. Once you arrive back at our base you then return in your vehicle back to your accommodation.

Adrift Tongariro Base
53 Carroll Street
National Park 3948

Track information

Total distance: 20.4km (12.7 miles)
Elevation gain: 786m (2,578 feet)
Walking time: 7 – 8 hours
Track conditions: Surfaces vary from boardwalks, soil, rocky, loose scoria, steep in places.

The Sunrise tours route often varies between the standard route to the standard route in reverse, and sometimes a route that takes us back to the start. The chosen route is dependent on weather conditions, time of year and your needs and ability. The sunrise route is the same route as the daytime tour but with one obvious exception … NO CROWDS! Visit our Tongariro Crossing map page for more details.

Sacred Mountains
The alpine lakes and peaks of the mountains are sacred to the local Māori tribe Ngāti Hikairo ki Tongariro. Respectfully, they ask that peaks are not climbed and waterways are not to be touched. Additionally we like to show our respect by ensuring we leave no trace, and even helping the environment by retrieving wrappers from those who have gone before us.

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