Adventure Outdoors Tongariro National Park — Local services in North Island

Last month, we did the Tongariro Crossing with our guide- Laura- and it was one of the highlights of our two week holiday on the north island of New Zealand.

Laura collected us at the entrance to the national park where on the way in, she gave us an overview of what we would be doing, pointed out some geographical locations, and confirmed we had everything we'd need (water, snacks, layers, gloves, beanies, etc..) although she did have enough provisions to provide to us if we didn't.

Throughout the hike, Laura shared her knowledge and previous experiences of being on the mountain. During the hike, we would take quick breaks so she could point out different geographical features such as lava that had rapidly cooled by the winds or a specific mountain flower that only grows up at altitude. On top of this, Laura was very good about sharing her knowledge of the history Maori people, what the mountain means to them, and evidence from previous eruptions.

As we approached the summit of the climb, being huge LOTR fans, Laura pointed out where both Mount Doom and Mordor were filmed. Shortly after, we made our way down to some very loose gravel towards some crystal clear lakes to have a short lunch. Laura was very quick to point out that the water was full of arsenic- which gave it its crystal blue color- and to under no circumstances drink or or in the water. For lunch, Laura provided sandwiches, light snacks, and hot beverages. The hot chocolate was soooo good!!!

As first time visitors, Laura made time for photo ops and also offered to take pics for us but most importantly, established a good pace for our group to ensure that we didn't spend too much time resting or taking photos so that we could make it back down the mountain before sun set or any weather came in.

Overall, I can't recommend Laura and Adventure Outdoors enough.

Some things to keep in mind: This hike is highly trafficked with only a few restrooms along the way. Make sure to "go" when you can and not when you need to.

Bring a camelback!! I personally had 2.5L of water. The hike is approx. 13.5 miles with an altitude gain of almost 800m.

Bring layers!! The summit can...

We completed the Tongariro Crossing with our excellent guide, Evan, from Adventure Outdoors on 23 April 2025. From the start, Evan made us extremely comfortable by providing the equipment we had requested and explaining the best ways to use them. We learnt greatly from his vast knowledge of the geological structure and conservation. At each point, Evan made us comfortable with the difficulty of the track and how to ascend and descend safely, whilst adding fun with his witty conversation. We had plenty of time to catch our breath, take photos, and have lunch. Although we were physically challenged by the crossing, Evan constantly ensured that we were looked after, even at one point, sitting us down and offering suitable sustenance to allow our bodies to continue. Overall, this dream crossing would not have been possible without Evan’s care and consideration. Thanks a million for this marvelous adventure. We strongly recommend crossing Tongariro guided by Evan to experience the best ever challenge of your life (loved the steps ;)). Kind regards,...

We had the best day with the best guide. Beyond incredible. The company was accommodating in every possible way - picking us up from our camping and providing any forgotten item we could possibly need. (I mean don’t rely on that, do bring all your hiking equipment, I just mean that they took care of us!) Our guide was kind, intelligent, interesting and hilarious; he made us feel safe with great equipment and simple but technical advice. He was also super encouraging but never put pressure on us to go faster or slower and it truly felt like he just wanted us to enjoy our day and marvel at the wonders of Tongariro. He even had great geological knowledge and showed us all the most amazing rocks! While I can’t speak to the other guides, I can tell you that this company is superb and it should be your top choice for a guided Tongariro crossing. Oh also, don’t go alone in winter unless you REALLY know what you’re doing. We’re fairly experienced hikers but we’re so glad we made...