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GW - 02 Tongariro Northern Circuit vs Tongariro Alpine Crossing

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 Tongariro Alpine Crossing
Distance 44 km 19 km
Elevation gain 1,304 m 791 m
Typical duration — —
Difficulty — Easy
Route type Point-to-point Point-to-point
Network National Regional
Country New Zealand New Zealand
Best time to hike Best from January to March Best from January to March
map Route & GPX map Route & GPX

GW - 02 Tongariro Northern Circuit vs Tongariro Alpine Crossing: which should you hike?

At 44 km, GW - 02 Tongariro Northern Circuit is the longer route — roughly 25 km more than Tongariro Alpine Crossing (19 km). If you want the bigger challenge or a longer trip, that's the one; for a shorter or first multi-day hike, Tongariro Alpine Crossing 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.