New Zealand’s most famous one-way walk, the Tongariro Crossing is a 19-kilometre traverse of the National Park between the peaks of Tongariro and Ngaurahoe. The route takes you across an arid and moon-like plateau dotted with old lava flows and vivid turquoise lakes, and offers superb views of the mountains surrounding landscape; on a clear day it’s possible to see Mount Taranaki 200 kilometres to the west. Whilst it is an extremely popular walk it is challenging, with a steep climb up the ‘Devil’s Staircase’ at the start and several sections of short but scree covered descent – a reasonable level of fitness and agility is required. However, for the well prepared it’s a wonderful and rewarding walk, taking between six and eight hours, and you will experience a landscape like nowhere else in the country. Transfers are easily organised between your accommodation and the start/finish of the track.

The path is well trodden and thus very easy to follow but guided walks are available if you would like to delve a bit deeper in to geology, flora and Maori mythology of the mountains. The excellent local guides provide a safe and memorable adventure