Planning on tackling the Tongariro Alpine Crossing? Stay up to date on the weather forecast and seasonal changes for a safe and enjoyable trek.
We take our role of keeping you safe very seriously. This means at times based on our over 20 years experience of working in this environment and reading the Tongariro weather forecast, we sometimes have to cancel our shuttles. This can happen the day before or it can even happen in the morning of the trip. Sometimes our Tongariro shuttles go on hold till another weather forecast comes out to ensure we get it right.
That said, the weather can change and it can still turn on you while you are doing your Tongariro trek and you need to be prepared and know what to do. On the map we give you there is a turn around location. At this point if the weather is no good you would need to call us and let us know that you have turned around. We then pick you up from the start of the track again. This is rare as we would cancel if we think this is a possibility but you need to know it could happen.
We send out a daily update and post it on here for everyone to be able to see and make an informed decision on whether the weather is good enough to set out. If we cancel there is a very good reason. Please do not attempt to go anyway. This is when people get into problems on the mountain. Keep safe.
If you are after those amazing shots of the lakes, craters and out-of-this-world colours then the best time for you to hike the Tongariro Alpine Crossing is in summer!
If you hike the Tongariro Crossing in Summer, from December to April, you can expect stable weather and warm temperatures. February, March & April are expected to have the most predictable weather, but also the highest number of hikers, so the track can get busy.
If you’d like a quieter summer hike, consider doing the Tongariro Crossing midweek, or in late November or December.
When it comes to hiking the Tongariro Crossing in Autumn, we recommend May and June, before the snow comes.
The days are getting shorter and the weather is getting colder, but the benefit is that the mountain is quieter and you’re more likely to have the Tongariro track to yourself. If you’re lucky enough to hike on a crisp, clear, blue sky day at this time of year it’s absolute magic! Such a special time to experience this iconic location.
Spring, from October to November, is a pretty time of year to tackle the Tongariro Crossing as the melting snow makes for beautiful views like the one below.
It's best to be mindful of the weather as the snow melts away, and hike the Tongariro Crossing with a guide in spring. Freedom hiking becomes possible once the tracks are clear of snow and ice as you can see in this photo.
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