Quick Details
Adult
Ages 18+
NZ$ 55
Child
Ages 17 & under
NZ$ 30
TONGARIRO CROSSING SHUTTLE BOOKING & TRANSPORT DETAILS
Wanting to book a shuttle to Tongariro Crossing? Summit Shuttles provides transport from the National Park – Park and Ride Transport Hub. This is located south of the Station Café, corner of Findlay St. and Station Road, National Park Village., where you can securely park your car for free all day while you hike.
You drive to the carpark, and our shuttle will transport you to the start of the Tongariro Alpine Crossing (Mangatepopo carpark). You walk over the Crossing, which Lonely Planet has called “New Zealand’s finest one-day walk and one of the best in the world.” Then we pick you up at the end (Ketetahi carpark) and return you back to your vehicle.
This challenging trip begins at 1120 m, climbs the Mangatepopo Valley to the saddle between Mount Tongariro and Mount Ngauruhoe, and goes through South Crater before climbing again to Red Crater, the highest point on the crossing at 1886 m.
You then descend on a volcanic rock scree track to the vivid Emerald Lakes, known as Ngarotopounamu (greenstone-hued lakes). After passing Blue Lake, also known as Te Wai-whakaata-o-te-Rangihiroa (Rangihiroa’s mirror), the track sidles around the northern slope of Tongariro, then descends in a zigzag track past Ketetahi Shelter and down to the road’s end at 760 m.
No need to pre book a return time as you can jump on any of our return Shuttle runs. Your driver will explain in more detail when they drop you off at the start of the track all the info you will need to know. Please let them know if you have any questions and please listen carefully to what they have to say.
Return Times are: 2.30pm and 4.30pm. (Just for May)
TONGARIRO CROSSING INFORMATION
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Water (Minimum of 1-2 litres), lunch, Personal medications (e.g. Asthma Inhaler, blister protection etc.), sun hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, backpack per person, hiking boots/shoes, walking trousers, 1 light top and 2 warm top layers (wool, merino, thermals, fleece, soft shell etc. are good layers. NO DENIM!), Waterproof raincoat and don’t forget your camera!
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Summit Shuttles’ service is weather dependent, and we reserve the right to cancel trips at short notice for the safety of our customers.
If we need to cancel due to poor or unsafe weather conditions on the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, we offer a transfer on your ticket to another day that suits you or a full refund. You must email the office for this refund or transfer to occur.
If you cancel within 24 hours of your tour date, you will incur a 100% cancellation fee.
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No refunds or credits will be provided if you fail to advise any amendments to the booking or fail to report at the venue of the operator with the appropriate vouchers issued for that booking on the day and time booked.
If you cancel within 24 hours of your tour date, you will incur a 100% cancellation fee.
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This is the perfect habitat for a variety of New Zealand’s native birds. In forested areas, you may see bellbird/korimako, tūī, New Zealand robin/toutouwai, tomtit/miromiro, fantail/pīwakawaka, and maybe New Zealand’s smallest bird, the rifleman/titipounamu.
Part of the shuttle fee helps the Department of Conservation with conservation projects.
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All waterways, including the lakes on Tongariro and his peaks Ngauruhoe and Ruapehu, are sacred to local iwi, Ngāti Hikairo ki Tongariro. Kaumātua Te Ngaehe Wanikau asks visitors to the area to respect the sanctity of the maunga tapu (sacred mountains) by not touching or entering any of the waterways, including the alpine lakes. Ngāti Hikairo ki Tongariro places extreme importance on their guardian role in protecting Tongariro and his peaks.
Ngatoroirangi, the founding ancestor of Ngāti Tuwharetoa, the local iwi (Māori tribe), ascended the great mountains of the Central Plateau 30 generations ago. It was then that he named Tongariro and the many features of the surrounding landscape, declaring this area as home for his descendants. It is from these beginnings that Ngāti Tuwharetoa maintains its intrinsic responsibility to protect the mountainous area to which they belong.
The generosity and foresight of Ngāti Tuwharetoa saw the heart of the mountainous area made sacrosanct in 1887, with the intent that the Crown would stand alongside Ngāti Tuwharetoa to ensure the continued protection of Tongariro. This led to the establishment of the Tongariro National Park in 1894, a first for New Zealand and fourth in the world.
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In 1993, Tongariro became the first property to be inscribed on the World Heritage List under the revised criteria describing cultural landscapes. The mountains at the heart of the park have cultural and spiritual significance to Ngāti Tuwharetoa and symbolise the spiritual links between this community and its environment. The park has active and extinct volcanoes, a diverse range of ecosystems and some remarkable landscapes.
The continued occupation by Ngāti Tuwharetoa in this environment ensures the cultural, spiritual and environmental values are protected and shared with all those who encounter this dynamic landscape.
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If you miss or are late for our last shuttle at 6 pm, you will incur a late fee. This fee will either be a minimum of $50 OR $20 per person.