HomeTrailsGW - 02 Tongariro Northern Circuit vs GW - 04 Abel Tasman Coast Track

GW - 02 Tongariro Northern Circuit vs GW - 04 Abel Tasman Coast Track

A side-by-side look at distance, elevation, difficulty and the best time to hike each — so you can pick the right route.

GW - 02 Tongariro Northern Circuit GW - 04 Abel Tasman Coast Track
Distance 44 km 60 km
Elevation gain 1,304 m 1,435 m
Typical duration
Difficulty
Route type Point-to-point Point-to-point
Network National National
Country New Zealand New Zealand
Best time to hike Best from January to March Best from March to March
map Route & GPX map Route & GPX

GW - 02 Tongariro Northern Circuit vs GW - 04 Abel Tasman Coast Track: which should you hike?

At 60 km, GW - 04 Abel Tasman Coast Track is the longer route — roughly 16 km more than GW - 02 Tongariro Northern Circuit (44 km). If you want the bigger challenge or a longer trip, that's the one; for a shorter or first multi-day hike, GW - 02 Tongariro Northern Circuit is the gentler pick. Check the elevation and best-season rows above, then open each route for the full guide and a free GPX download.