Tongariro Crossing Guided Group Walk

Located in the Tongariro National Park, a UNESCO Dual World Heritage site, the Tongariro Alpine Crossing is New Zealand’s best one-day walk. This 20.4km trek takes around 7-8 hours to complete and crosses a spectacular landscape of lava flows, steaming vents and crater lakes. Shaped by volcanic and glacial activity over the last 275,000 years, the crossing offers a unique experience, found nowhere else in New Zealand.

Summer is the best time to see the vivid colours and textures of this mineral rich environment. Winter provides the opportunity to experience a pristine snow-covered landscape. No outdoor experience is necessary and all training is given on the day for a fantastic alpine experience.

Emerald Lakes in Winter
Tongariro in Winter
Mt Ngauruhoe
Blue Lake

Choose your Tongariro Alpine Crossing
Group Tour Option

Book a Tongariro Crossing BASIC if you require the tour only this winter. If you require the additional extras or want to join us outside winter, the Tongariro Crossing PREMIUM is for you. We also offer exclusive Private Tours that can accommodate different fitness levels and avoid weather-exposed sections or crowded areas.

Tour Times

Walking time: 7 – 9 hours

Summer 1 October – 31 March

Meet at the Adrift Tongariro Base: 8:00am
Return: 5.30pm

Winter 1 April – 30 September

Meet at the Adrift Tongariro Base: 7:00am
Return: 5.30pm

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

There is plenty of free on-street parking outside the Adrift Tongariro Base which has no time limit or vehicle size restrictions.

Included

  • Guide/s
  • Transport. Between the start and end of the tour and the Adrift Tongariro base included.
  • All winter equipment. Crampons and ice axes if required for winter conditions.
  • $60 clothing and footwear hire allowance. Included in the PREMIUM tour option only. See the Fitness and Gear Requirements tab below for recommended gear and gear available to hire from Adrift Tongariro.

Not Included

Lunch is not included in this tour but is available to our Premium customers 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.

National Park Village is small and there are no cafes or supermarkets open early in the morning. You are not able to purchase your lunch before the tour in National Park Village.

Accommodation Transfers

We recommend that clients with their own vehicles self drive to our shop. Clients can park their vehicle outside the Adrift Tongariro base safely, at no cost for the day. If this is not an option, accommodation transfers from Whakapapa Village, Turangi and Taupo CBD can be booked as an additional service and cost over and above the tour cost at the time of booking a Premium 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

Summer

  • Own lunch
  • Water (1.5-2 litres)
  • Personal medications (e.g. Asthma Inhaler, blister protection etc)
  • Sun hat, sunscreen, sunglasses
  • Backpack per person
  • Hiking boots/shoes
  • Walking trousers
  • 1 light top and 2 warm top layers (wool, merino, thermals, fleece, soft shell etc. are good layers)
  • Waterproof raincoat

Winter

  • Own lunch
  • Water (1-1.5 litres)
  • Personal medications (e.g. Asthma Inhaler, blister protection etc)
  • Sun hat, 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

Gear Hire

Adrift Tongariro has available for hire personal equipment, footwear and clothing to supplement that which you don’t have and need.

Adrift have good quality LOWA summer and winter boots available for hire. Our winter boots have rigid soles and are made for the G10 crampons we use.

Pricing

  • Boots: $35
  • Clothing items: $15 each (thermal longs, fleece longs, waterproof pants, thermal tops, fleece tops, waterproof tops)
  • Clothing accessories: $5 each (socks, gloves, warm hats, sun hats and sunglasses)
  • Day backpacks: $15 each
  • Walking poles: $5 each

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. We take all individual and group bookings. If you are travelling alone please book as we generally always meet minimum numbers, especially on good weather days.

If you wish to upgrade from a BASIC tour to our PREMIUM product this must be done outside our 14 day cancellation policy. See Terms and Conditions.

BASIC

Winter Only Tongariro Crossing

Guided Group Walk

WINTER ONLY
This Limited time offer is available again 1 June 2025

Winter Only
Available 1 June – 15 October Only

FULLY REFUNDABLE & POSTPONABLE*

  • Refundable if Adrift cancels due to poor weather forecasts.
  • Refundable if clients cancels 14 days prior to trip date.

*Subject to Terms and Conditions

Winter equipment included
Crampons, ice axe and helmet if needed

Additional boot and clothing hire
Available as an optional extra

Adrift have good quality LOWA Boots with rigid soles available for hire. Made for the G10 crampons we use.

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

Accommodation transfers not an option
Consider our Premium Group Tour option instead

Lunch not an option
Consider our Premium Group Tour option instead

Interested in a private tour?
Find out more

PREMIUM

Tongariro Crossing Guided

Group Walk

$ 395 per person

Available all year
Summer, Autumn, Winter and Spring

FULLY REFUNDABLE & POSTPONABLE*

  • Refundable if Adrift cancels due to poor weather forecasts.
  • Refundable if clients cancels 14 days prior to trip date.

*Subject to Terms and Conditions

Winter equipment included
Crampons, ice axe and helmet if needed

Additional boot and clothing hire
Included to the value of $40

Adrift have good quality LOWA summer and winter boots available for hire. Our winter boots have rigid soles and are made for the G10 crampons we use.

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

Accommodation transfers an optional extra
Taupo CBD, Turangi, Whakapapa Village

Lunch an optional extra

BOOK NOW

Interested in a private tour?
Find out more

Reconfirmation

All customers are required to reconfirm between 10:00am – 5:00pm the day prior to trip date.  Single bookings 3 days prior to establish if minimum numbers have been met.

Phone: +64 7 8922 751  WhatsApp: +64 274 462 364 

Waiver

Each participant is required to fill out a waiver prior to arriving on site. Look out for your unique waiver link in your inbox 3 days before your tour date.

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 at 8:00am in Summer (1 October – 31 March) and 7:00am in winter (1 April – 30 September). Clients can park their vehicle outside the Adrift Tongariro base safely, at no cost for the day. When you arrive, our guides will 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.

We will then 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.

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 – 9 hours
Track conditions: Surfaces vary from boardwalks, soil, rocky, loose scoria, steep in places.

The track climbs the Mangatepopo Valley passing Soda Springs to the saddle between Mt. Ngauruhoe and Mt. Tongariro. The steep climb known as the Devil’s staircase takes you to South Crater before climbing again to Red Crater, the highest point on the Tongariro Alpine Crossing at 1886m. You will then descend on loose volcanic scoria rock to the vivid Emerald Lakes and then on to the Blue Lake. Finally zig zag your way down past the Ketetahi Hut through the natural alpine garden finishing with a final 45 minutes cathartic walk through NZ native forest to the end where Adrift Tongariro transport is waiting for you. 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.

Yes, we guide in Winter

Winter offers the opportunity to walk through the magnificent snow-covered landscape without the summer crowds. The winter season is based on snow levels on the track and is usually between April to the end of October / mid September.

Winter brings a new set of challenges including changes in weather and track conditions. These changes require more preparation, skills, winter equipment and the need for a guide. Check out our Winter Tongariro Crossing Guide for more details.

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