Winding its way over Mt Tongariro and around Mt Ngauruhoe is the Tongariro Northern Circuit, one of the Great Walks of New Zealand. It passes through some stunning landscapes including volcanic craters, glacial valleys and lava formations.

From Whakapapa to Mangatepopo the track stretches through the vast, open and somewhat rolling expanses of red tussock that contribute one of the strongest visual characters of the park. Thereafter and until Emerald Lakes this is the same route as the Tongariro Crossing, right in the middle of a diverse and spectacular volcanic environment rich in vivid colours and strange mineral formations.

The Oturere Valley which follows, once carved by glaciers and now filled by a huge lava flow, provides an equally rewarding walk. After Oturere Hut an essentially mineral world of volcanic ashes and scoria, with rare patches of silver tussock and other hardy vegetation, shares many of the characteristics of the famous Rangipo Desert, further south on the eastern slopes of Ruapehu. More glacial valleys, as well as some mountain beech forest, are crossed before reaching the Waihohonu Hut, where the environment changes again.

The last leg of the trip is walked first through dense tussock and scrub vegetation, which turns gradually to nearly pure red tussock at the higher altitude of the Tama Lakes and all the way down to Whakapapa Village. At all stages of this walk superb views will be enjoyed, especially over the symmetrical cone of Ngaruhoe as well as Ruapehu, and further afield towards the Whanganui country in the west, and the Kaimanawa Ranges in the east.

The Tongariro Northern Circuit is considered a challenging tramp, largely on open exposed terrain, much of it on uneven track surface. It can be subject to sudden rapid weather change. You should be at least moderately fit.

For full information on the Tongariro Northern Circuit, click here.