What's so special about the Tongariro Crossing?

I wanted to hear about the merits of the Tongariro Crossing on the North Island of NZ. I have been to NZ a couple times now and I am planning an extended stay in the country for a few months later this year. I have been on quite a few tramps in NZ including the Routeburn, Abel Tasman, and many day hikes. However, I have never hiked the Tongariro Crossing and I am wondering what the hype is all about.

I have seen the pictures and videos and it seems like it is an overly crowded hike through barren, boring landscape. I am from Colorado and I am used to climbing above the timberline in a dry environment. This just seems like it is a terrible day trip that someone does if they don't have enough time to get to the South Island or go on a longer trip.

Please let me know if I am missing something or if there are any other tramps in NZ that I should not miss out on. Milford, Heaphy, Kepler, others?

I've just forwarded this to someone who has hiked extensively in NZ - awaiting her answer.

Special? Well, its long - 8 hours or so for the basic walk. It's beautiful in the extreme and you can do it if you are not too fit (as long as you get the right time of year).

As for others, I recommend The Queen Charlotte, Routeburn and Abel Tasman.

Details of them are on my site, if you want. Or the AirNewZeland iPhone app if you have one of those (they bought them).

Basho

Here's a reply frmo someone who has hiked extensively all around the world, but particularly in NZ:

The tongariro crossing is definitely an iconic NZ walk but it all depends on your perspective and what rings your bells. It can get incredibly busy, especially over holiday times (when i personally would avoid it) but it is wild, immense, inspiring, varied landscape. You are missing something if you avoid this as it is a really different kind of tramp. It isn't called the best one day tramp in NZ for nothing and many people go back again and again. The Emerald Lakes are beautiful and the scree slope fun.

Although the crossing itself is great, it is even better to wrap it into the round the mountain trip which takes in most of the crossing but also extends over three to four days in a range of fascinating terrain. Some of it is quite barren but intriguingly and fascinatingly so.

Other walks offer their own beauties and challenges. The Milford is grandiose and the terrain is stunning. not as beautiful as the Routeburn but the granite walls of Clinton Canyon are immense and MacKinnons Pass is unbelievable.

the Kepler is also gorgeous when the weather is good. Views to die for - I think the highest climb of the great walks and an excellent walk right along the luxmore ridge with stunning scenery all around. waikaremoana is beautiful in an entirely different way - gorgeous pristine bush and lake views.

Spoilt for choice.

It's a great one day hike, especially if one does not have enough time to do any of NZ's great multi day hikes. I did it in 2008 with my 2 sons, aged 10 and 12, and my wife. We started with a crazy 45 minute very steep slog before it levelled off just before we passed Mount "Doom" from Lord of the Rings. The down to Emerald lakes and through spectacular country for the last 2 hours. My boys still talk about it today.
Here's my son's take on New Zealand and some photos of Tongariro Crossing.
http://travellingdad.quivertreeworld.co ... -year-old/

we just did the Crossing two weeks ago after 8 months of living and lots of walking down South. its a cool and very unique walk, though it's impossible to live up to all that hype. definitely take the 3 hour detour to the top of Ngaurahoe. pictures here if you like: http://through5eyes.com/

as for more ideas... look beyond the great walks. there are some excellent books available in any library or bookstore - "Classic Tramping in NZ", and "South Island Weekend Tramps". plenty of empty trails out there that are equally as beautiful.

Mama-to-many wrote:Here's a reply frmo someone who has hiked extensively all around the world, but particularly in NZ:

The tongariro crossing is definitely an iconic NZ walk but it all depends on your perspective and what rings your bells. It can get incredibly busy, especially over holiday times (when i personally would avoid it) but it is wild, immense, inspiring, varied landscape. You are missing something if you avoid this as it is a really different kind of tramp.

Excellent and informative answer.

I missed Tongariro when I was in Taupo because of budget and I was afraid I would be too unfit and hold everyone up. The evening when I was leaving, I met a girl in crutches who managed to complete it. Boy did I feel dumb...

Anyway I have heard plenty of great things about it. People don't forget it easily. And tramping in different countries always gives a different experience though doesn't it? I think the reply above really summed it up and I can't add more to it other than I agree!

I plan to go back to do it.