Mount Ngauruhoe
Mount Ngauruhoe
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
5.0
99 reviews
Excellent
78
Very good
18
Average
3
Poor
0
Terrible
0
26Cath
Melbourne, Australia140 contributions
Apr 2023 • Friends
As a young Kiwi in 1988 I did the ascent with a couple of other military mates. We drove down from Auckland and hiked up to the first hut on the Mangatepopo trail. The following morning we hit the trail early and scrambled up to the summit. Amazing views across Tongariro and Ruapehu and down into the crater. Well worth the effort…and this was before it was Mt Doom
Written March 18, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sachin K
New York City, NY6,557 contributions
Dec 2018 • Solo
Unexpectedly got views of Mount Ngauruhoe en route while traveling in a bus from Wellington to Rotorua and was flabbergasted. Next time will try and stay in one of the towns closer to this mountain.
Written November 28, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CdnBackpacker
Oakville, Canada121 contributions
Feb 2013 • Friends
Like many, I wanted to hike up Mount Doom, and so we took some time during our backpack trip on the Tongariro Northern Circuit to do it. We are both pretty athletic, but hiking up Mt. Ngauruhoe is probably one of the most difficult short activities I have ever done. I was expecting lots of trail followed by a relatively short climb over loose rock, but there was a lot less trail (and more serious scrambling) than I had anticipated! The views were great and we certainly felt an accomplishment reaching the rim, but we saw too many injuries to say this was a wise climb - a fall on the sharp scoria left one man bleeding from multiple wounds and we saw a few flying rocks that just missed people's heads. The best way down, it seems, is to slide down the scree on your feet. Our hiking poles really helped us to control our descent, but once again, some skill and confidence is really important with this type of activity. I don't recommend this hike unless you're REALLY sure of your stamina and capability.
Written March 12, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
IN_Travelers47906
West Lafayette, IN4,721 contributions
Dec 2017 • Couples
Mt. Doom in the Lord of the Rings. It is an omnipresent fixture wherever you might be while in Tongariro National Park. Shrouded in clouds most of the time, be alert, as the clouds do clear from the cone from time to time. No matter where you are in the park, you will find yourself stopping to take photos of this magnificent volcano. Want a unique perspective? Drive up to the Ruapehu ski resort, and then either walk up the skree or take the ski lift for wonderful views of Ngauruhoe that most visitors never see.
Written March 13, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
wanderluster101
Telford, Shropshire77 contributions
Dec 2012 • Couples
Mount Ngauruhoe, at 2287m, (Mount Doom in Lord of the RIngs) is one of three majestic, active volcanic mountains at Tongariro National Park, the oldest NP in New Zealand. Mount Ruapehu at 2797m and Mount Tongariro at 1967m are the other two. The three mountains are an impressive sight. Mount Tongariro was smoking when we visited. The lake on the top of Mount Ruapehu we were told was cooling and causing a bit of a stir as it should have been heating-up. Mount Ngauruhoe was a typical volcanic cone. We walked the 6k loop from Whakapapa Village, where there is a brilliant information centre, between Mounts Ngauruhoe and Ruapehu to Taranaki Falls, where the falls plunge 20m into a boulder-ringed pool. There were people absailing down the side of the falls. Most enjoyable walk in beautiful weather with good views of the mountains. There were lots of other fine walks available in the area, including the famous Tongariro Crossing rated as the best one-day tramp in New Zealand. This walk was closed on the day we visited as there was some problem along the route. There had been a 5.8 earthquake at some point miles below the surface at the Tongariro NP just a few days before we arrived which had been of no consequence due to its depth. It had been felt on South Island but we had not noticed it!
Written January 24, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SPYC
Hastings, New Zealand659 contributions
Jun 2020 • Couples
Almost symmetrical, on a clear day it almost begs to be climbed. The easiest way is a diversion to the top from the Tongariro Crossing walk. Very picturesque with a capping of snow.
Written June 26, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Janice P
Webster30 contributions
Mar 2018 • Family
We did the 19Km hike thru the park.. what an adventure. The weather was absolutely perfect . Cloud cover on a warm day, no rain, no wind. Glad we did it, but not sure I would do it again . Anytime soon anyways !! You are actually hiking thru and up and over .. Climbing on the side of a mountain with the edge at your feet with no barriers . Take a good rain coat , that protected me any wind/ cold . Sandwich lunch and plenty of water .
Written March 30, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lim F
6 contributions
Dec 2017
Its quite an okay scenic trail , maybe due to my extreme bias taste i find it mediocre (despite being rated the best trail and so and so) while others find it quite the contrary.
The highlights would be the two lakes or three on the top.
The highlights would be the two lakes or three on the top.
Written January 18, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LouisvanWyk
National Park Village, New Zealand17 contributions
Nov 2017 • Family
Mt Ngauruhoe is one of the most iconic mountains in New Zealand with its classic conical volcano shape.
However, climbing to the summit is no longer advised. The summit is scared to local Maori, plus the hike up the slopes is not very safe with many loose rocks that can become dislodged easily.
Ngauruhoe is best experienced from a distance, or up close from one of the many walk in the Tongariro National Park.
However, climbing to the summit is no longer advised. The summit is scared to local Maori, plus the hike up the slopes is not very safe with many loose rocks that can become dislodged easily.
Ngauruhoe is best experienced from a distance, or up close from one of the many walk in the Tongariro National Park.
Written November 25, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Keith C
Warminster, UK1,057 contributions
Jan 2015 • Solo
It took 59 years, but I did it! I climbed Mt Ngauruhoe. I admit I wasn't at my fittest, but the sheer physical and mental effort it required of me to get to the top is one of the hardest (and scariest) things I had done recently.
I had done the Tongariro Crossing a couple of times before, and this provides the first two hours walking from the Mangatepopo road end to get to the signposted turnoff at the top of the 'Devil's Staircase. This was a breeze compared to what lay ahead.
There were plenty of people - young, very young and middle-aged - doing the climb that sunny, early January day. The temp in the valley was probably about 25C. Up on top it was a breezy, but I was comfortable in my T-shirt, as were most people.
The most demanding part is from 5min after the turnoff when you start climbing the scoria scree, which is where the 'track' leads you too. But very quickly learnt to ignore these and head to the rocks ON THE LEFT (this is the biggest and most useful tip I can give). Otherwise you are struggling to climb a steep slope of very loose 'gravel'. The rocks give you a much better footing and also handholds. The scary bit is knowing that if you slip... there is a steep and potential long way down!
My legs - thighs particularly - ached. I was tempted to give up several times. But I knew that if I was patient and just plodded on, that I would get there. In the end, what took some people 45min, took me nearly 2hrs, but it was worth it! While cloud came and went, the view from the top was amazing - looking over the Tongariro Crossing, the lakes and the whole National Park and beyond. I had earned lunch and took in the view, snapping off a goodly number of photos. It's also interesting to look into the volcanic crater, which has been active within the last 30 years, but 'just' a crater with a rock bottom and some snow in it at this time of year.
Getting down was 'much easier'. Most folk chose to walk/slide down the scree. This took 20-30min if your walk/sliding. Danger comes from tumbling rocks loosened by other people above you. So it's worth stopping regularly to check behind who and what's coming.
Then, if you are returning to Mangatepopo (which is where I has left my car - plenty of parking), it's another 2hrs steady pace on tired legs.
I wore tramping shorts, t-shirt and a very good pair of tramping boots. But there were plenty of people in 'sports shoes'. My boots got pretty beaten up on the sharp rocks and scoria, so, not sure what happens to shoes.
I also took a pack with food and plenty of water (3litres), and some back up warm clothing, just in case it was needed. I knew the weather can change quickly up there. I used all my water by the time I had finished! But a fair number of people had no pack, no water, just the clothes they walked in. I was quite comfortable with my approach.
I started the walk at 8am, and returned to the carpark at 3.30pm. I like taking photos, so I'm not rushing anywhere - the journey is as important as the destination - and this certainly was a great days journey, a sense of achievement, and I'll never look at Ngauruhoe the same way again.
I had done the Tongariro Crossing a couple of times before, and this provides the first two hours walking from the Mangatepopo road end to get to the signposted turnoff at the top of the 'Devil's Staircase. This was a breeze compared to what lay ahead.
There were plenty of people - young, very young and middle-aged - doing the climb that sunny, early January day. The temp in the valley was probably about 25C. Up on top it was a breezy, but I was comfortable in my T-shirt, as were most people.
The most demanding part is from 5min after the turnoff when you start climbing the scoria scree, which is where the 'track' leads you too. But very quickly learnt to ignore these and head to the rocks ON THE LEFT (this is the biggest and most useful tip I can give). Otherwise you are struggling to climb a steep slope of very loose 'gravel'. The rocks give you a much better footing and also handholds. The scary bit is knowing that if you slip... there is a steep and potential long way down!
My legs - thighs particularly - ached. I was tempted to give up several times. But I knew that if I was patient and just plodded on, that I would get there. In the end, what took some people 45min, took me nearly 2hrs, but it was worth it! While cloud came and went, the view from the top was amazing - looking over the Tongariro Crossing, the lakes and the whole National Park and beyond. I had earned lunch and took in the view, snapping off a goodly number of photos. It's also interesting to look into the volcanic crater, which has been active within the last 30 years, but 'just' a crater with a rock bottom and some snow in it at this time of year.
Getting down was 'much easier'. Most folk chose to walk/slide down the scree. This took 20-30min if your walk/sliding. Danger comes from tumbling rocks loosened by other people above you. So it's worth stopping regularly to check behind who and what's coming.
Then, if you are returning to Mangatepopo (which is where I has left my car - plenty of parking), it's another 2hrs steady pace on tired legs.
I wore tramping shorts, t-shirt and a very good pair of tramping boots. But there were plenty of people in 'sports shoes'. My boots got pretty beaten up on the sharp rocks and scoria, so, not sure what happens to shoes.
I also took a pack with food and plenty of water (3litres), and some back up warm clothing, just in case it was needed. I knew the weather can change quickly up there. I used all my water by the time I had finished! But a fair number of people had no pack, no water, just the clothes they walked in. I was quite comfortable with my approach.
I started the walk at 8am, and returned to the carpark at 3.30pm. I like taking photos, so I'm not rushing anywhere - the journey is as important as the destination - and this certainly was a great days journey, a sense of achievement, and I'll never look at Ngauruhoe the same way again.
Written January 12, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi there
Can you tell me where you drove past the Mountain to get a good view - I am traveling with my mum so we cant do the walk but would like to see it at a good vantage point
Thanks
Written May 6, 2019
Hi there. It really depends on the weather. The mountain is not that close to the roads and view from there can really not compensate closer look. But when you don´t have any other option, I would recommend taking route 47 from Turangi to National Park Village and then follow on rd.4 to Erua. That should give you pretty decent view, if the clouds will be in you favour :-)
Or you can consider one of the flights over the park. I did it at Fjordland and it´s really worth the money.
Written May 7, 2019
I have a day to explore the area and I don’t mind a little hiking but nothing advanced. Can anyone recommend a good viewpoint that doesn’t require steep or lengthy hikes (I have a bad knee). Thanks!
Written July 17, 2018
Hi Sarah, did you end up finding an answer to this? I was wondering also. Thank you.
Written January 23, 2019
Hej, kunde ni se Mt Ngauruhoe från där ni gick? Hur gamla var era barn? Vill gärna se Mt Ngauruhoe, men kommer att ha barn med mig, så kan inte gå Alpine Crossing.
Written April 14, 2018
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