Tongariro field notes
Desert Road & Rangipō

Round the Mountain Track

Advanced Multi-day Filming location

A quiet, serious circuit of Ruapehu through desert, gorges, waterfalls, lava valleys and six huts, far from the crowds of the Crossing.

66 kmloop
4–6 dayswalking time
↑ 2340 mclimb
1,573 mhigh point
DOC page ↗
Round the Mountain Track Round the Mountain Track © Sarang · Public domain
Whangaehu Ruapehu 2 © ShakyIsles · CC BY-SA 4.0
Wahianoa river © ShakyIsles · CC BY-SA 4.0

Elevation profile

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DOC distance 66 km; the mapped line measures 72.1 km.

What you’ll see

  1. 1
    Lower Tama Lake - Tongariro N.P. - panoramio
    Lake· 1,240 m Lower Tama Lake
  2. 2
    Tongariro Waihohonu old
    Hut· 1,150 m Waihohonu Hut (historic & new)
  3. 3
    Tongariro Northern Circuit, New Zealand (42)
    Springs· 1,130 m Ohinepango Springs
  4. 4
    Rangipo Desert 10
    Desert· 1,100 m Rangipō Desert
  5. 5
    Mangaehuehu Hut 1
    Hut· 1,285 m Mangaehuehu Hut
  6. 6
    Waitonga Falls 2
    Waterfall· 1,100 m Waitonga Falls
  7. 7
    Rotokawa
    Wetland· 1,140 m Rotokawa Pools
  8. 8
    Lake surprise
    Lake· 1,320 m Lake Surprise
  9. 9
    Mangaturuturu Hut 1
    Hut· 1,250 m Mangaturuturu Hut
  10. 10
    Whakapapaiti 2 MRD
    Hut· 1,300 m Whakapapaiti Valley & Hut
DesertLahar valleysWaterfallsLava flowsBeech forestAlpine tussock

The walk

Clockwise from Whakapapa: over the Tama Saddle to Waihohonu, across the Rangipō Desert to Rangipō Hut, through the Whangaehu lahar valley to Mangaehuehu Hut, past Waitonga Falls to Ohakune Mountain Road, down the Cascade to Mangaturuturu Hut, across the western lava fields to Whakapapaiti Hut and home. Unbridged rivers, long exposed sections and no bookings needed outside the Great Walk huts.

Start. Whakapapa Village (or Ohakune Mountain Road)

Snow & season

Alpine in winter

Sections above 1,400 m carry snow in winter and the Whangaehu crossing is dangerous after rain or during volcanic activity.

Best season: November to April

  • Unbridged rivers
  • Lahar hazard at the Whangaehu
  • Exposure on the eastern side
Live forecast →

More photos

Mangaehuehu Hut 1 © Sarang · Public domain
A Martian Landscape? (52346477464) © Geoff McKay · CC BY 2.0
Ruapehu sunrise © ShakyIsles · CC BY-SA 4.0
Nearby

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