Guided Tongariro Crossing: 19 km, 8 Hours, Past the Mountain That Played Mount Doom

Nineteen kilometres, eight hours, and a guide who is watching the weather the whole way. That last part is what separates a guided crossing from a shuttle plus a map. Tongariro's track is exposed and its conditions turn quickly. The guides here assess weather and track conditions as the day goes, and they time the pick-up at the far end to when the group actually arrives rather than to a timetable set the night before. The route crosses volcanic craters, passes mountain springs and reaches the emerald lakes, whose colour comes from the minerals in them. The flora changes as the track climbs, which is easier to notice when someone points it out. Mount Ngauruhoe is the steep cone in the middle of the walk, between Tongariro and Ruapehu. It played Mount Doom in the Lord of the Rings films, and seeing it from the saddle explains the casting. Winter puts the whole thing under snow and summer opens the flowers. Same track, different walk. The operator is based at Adrift Tongariro. Bookings are final and cancellations are not refunded.