The 4 Day Tongariro Itinerary

A transfer is availiable from Rotorua to Tongariro National Park or you can meet at the fabulous Chateau in Tongariro National Park at around 6pm your accommodation for the duration of your time with us. Settle in with a glass of New Zealand wine and sample from a selection of cheese boards during the briefing from your friendly guide. Tomorrow's walk  is the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, considered one of the world's greatest day walks.

Accommodation: Chateau Tongariro - 3 Nights

Meals: Dinner

Today you hike the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, considered as the best one-day walk in New Zealand. This challenging hike weaves its way through awe inspiring volcanic landscapes with active steaming craters, limestone green coloured lakes and off course the massive dome volcanoes. The summit offers fantastic views over the Central North Island. A good level of fitness is required to enjoy this hike.

If the weather is fine we will get up early so we can experience the pre-dawn solitude of the mountain and watch the sun rises over the three main volcanoes – a truly worthwhile experience!

Accommodation: Chateau Tongariro  (Where you can revive your weary muscles in the plunge pool or sauna)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

The climb up to the Mt Ruapehu Crater Lake is as memorable as the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, but presents a different range of landscapes and is noticeably crowd-free.To ease the day we take a chair lift up to 2000 m (6561 ft), then continue by foot as we hike up to the Crater Lake not too far from the summit (approx 2 hours up to 2660m 8727 ft). There is no trail as such but it is here that your guide will come into his own and choose the best route through the boulder fields, old  patches of snow and old lave fields.
The highlight is reaching the active acid filled Crater Lake, whose waters reach temperatures of up to 60°C (140 F ), but lets not forget the 360 degree views from the summit of the North Island's highest mountain.

Accommodation: Chateau Tongariro 

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast we head to the Taranaki Falls, that flows 20 m (65 ft ) over an old lava flow, which eventuated from the eruption of Mt Ruapehu some 15,000 years ago. The picture perfect falls plunge into a pool scattered with huge boulders. We take the opportunity to picnic at this stunning location. The track continues through some beautiful alpine meadows and beech forest and In contrast to the two previous days hikes there is a lush temperate rainforest to explore, and a historic Maori fortress.

Meals: Breakfast