One of New Zealand's toughest hikes! 20km Tongariro

My first long-distance hike was climbing Mount Emei during university. After watching the sunrise over the sea of clouds at the Golden Summit at 9 a.m., I descended from the back mountain—99 steep switchbacks so intense they made me question life, with slippery stone steps that seemed endless. I kept going down to Qingyin Pavilion, gulped down a bowl of hot tofu pudding at the foot of the mountain, and then rushed to catch the 5 p.m. train back to Chengdu. The next day, I was still running around playing soccer. Since then, I’ve hiked many trails for work: Mount Siguniang, Jiuzhaigou, Daocheng Yading, Yamdrok Lake, Shigatse, Everest Base Camp... The mountains are always there, but every experience feels different. Now living in New Zealand, last year I challenged the 7-hour Taranaki hike; today I completed one of New Zealand’s toughest hikes — the 20km Tongariro Alpine Crossing. From the volcanic crater shrouded in mist to the moment sunlight illuminated the Emerald Lakes, the awe is truly beyond what photos can capture. The wind at the summit was strong enough to push you off balance, the volcanic landscape was as desolate as an alien planet, but every step made me think: this trip was worth it. My body is tired, but my heart feels light. Some trails you really have to walk once to realize how vast the world is and how small we are. ⸻ 🥾 Practical Tips (Tested Personally) Gear • Down vest + windbreaker (the wind at the crater is especially strong) • Hat/headscarf, sunscreen • Sandwiches, braised meat, at least 1.5L of water per person (You can also resupply along the way: New World supermarket, McDonald’s, CamoKai Takeaways, and other fast food) Tips • Having lived in Sichuan for many years, I pre-cooked a pot of Sichuan-style beef tendon, which was a lifesaver at the summit. • Be sure to check the weather in advance! Tongariro Crossing Weather Forecast | Tongariro Expeditions lets you check wind speed and whether the trail is open. I originally planned to take the shuttle up at 6:45 a.m. on Saturday, but due to strong winds, the entire route was canceled, so I had to reschedule to enter the trail at 5:30 a.m. on Sunday. I finished the hike by 1 p.m., went back to the hotel to pick up my car, and then drove 4 hours back to Auckland. Luckily I’m young, or it would have been quite exhausting. Accommodation • The Park Hotel Ruapehu The price difference for the same room type mainly depends on whether the hiking shuttle service and prepared lunch boxes (not very tasty, not recommended) are included. Transportation • About 3.5 hours’ drive from Auckland. • As someone who has driven the 318 Lhasa route, the roads are fairly friendly, just lots of curves, so be careful.