Tongariro Crossing Boardwalk, Central North Island. New Zealand.
S 39° 08.482 E 175° 36.610
60H E 379889 N 5666615
This section of Boardwalk forms part of the famous great walk, The Tongariro Crossing, which crosses the volcanic Tongariro National Park in the centre of the North Island.
Waymark Code: WM11KFR
Location: North Island, New Zealand
Date Posted: 11/06/2019
Views: 5
A wooden boardwalk forms the track for about 1km near the start of the Tongariro Crossing from above the Mangatepopo Hut following the Mangatepopo Valley towards the Devils Staircase in a valley between the summits of the volcanoes of Ngauruhoe and Tongariro.
This is a fragile environment consisting of a wet area of stream marshes, tussock and alpine bog between volcanic lava rocks. The boardwalk is needed to protect the unstable ground from erosion and damage created from the harsh weather and also the thousands of walkers who do this popular Great Walk.
About The Tongariro Crossing: This challenging track begins at 1120 m, climbs the Mangatepopo Valley to the saddle between Mount Tongariro and Mount Ngauruhoe, through South Crater before climbing again to Red Crater, the highest point on the crossing at 1886 m. It descends on a volcanic rock scree track to the vivid Emerald Lakes, known as Nga Rotopounamu (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 down to the road end at 760 m.
The track crosses volcanic alpine landscape of dramatic contrasts – steaming vents, glacial valleys, ancient lava flows, alpine vegetation and vivid crater lakes, all with stunning views. The Boardwalk is on the Mangatepopo Valley section of the track, near the Soda Springs, before the track climbs the Devils Staircase.
PLEASE NOTE: You can visit the boardwalk then turn around and return to your car at the Mangatepopo Road end, do not attempt the whole Crossing Walk unless you are well prepared. See Website below.
IMPORTANT: Please visit the website: (
visit link) before attempting to walk this track.