Mount Tongariro is the lowest of the three volcanoes, but its sprawling mass makes up for its lack of height. Driving past or flying over Mount Tongariro gives one the best indication of its actual size.

The Tongariro Alpine Crossing, regarded as New Zealand’s best one day walk, traverses the mountain up over the Mangatepopo saddle that runs between Mt Ngauruhoe and Mt Tongariro, past the Red Crater and Emerald Lakes to Ketetahi Hut and the final descent.

A strenuous seventeen-kilometre hike, the Tongariro Alpine Crossing is usually hiked from November to May and takes around eight hours.

Tongariro last erupted in 2012, small ash eruptions from the Te Maari Crater on August 6th and November 21st. These were the first eruptions of Te Maari in 116 years. Noone was injured in these events. Before these recent eruptions the Red Crater was considered Tongariro's most active vent, last giving out ash in 1926 and creating the craters known as the Emerald Lakes. The minerals from this eruption gave the lakes their stunning colour.