Would love some feedback on anyone who has done this walk. Four 50 year olds and four twenty year olds all in fairly good shape. Does the estimated 7 hour walk include rest stops, picnic lunch, viewing the scenery, et al? We'll be in Turangi for 4 days in early January.

You can't help but view the scenery once you get over that first crater lip, whether you're moving or not.

I'd say if you do the whole thing in 7 hours you'll be able to stop and rest for 30-45 minutes of that time, depending on how fast you walk, but not much longer, its a long way and if you have to meet a bus on the other side you'll need to keep moving. i think most of the transport companies offer an early dropoff if you want to do it at a more leisurely pace (or climb up Mt Nguarahoe)

That's kind of what I thought. Just wondering about the one "climb". It's pretty steep in a short distance, but the rest of the trip sounds like it's pretty flat. True?

I wouldnt say flat. There's a second steep climb up to the Red Crater, about 30 minutes or so, then you'll scramble down the other side at a steep angle over loose rock...things do flatten out a bit after that. Honestly I thought the worst part was the pounding my shins took from all the wooden steps in the last hour. But if you're in good shape you can do it. There were folks in their 50s passing me on the way up.

We survived the Tongariro Crossing. And you are so right about the steps. We thought there was no end. A few more signs towards the end would have been nice. The first grade was grueling toward the top, the second up the red crater was tolerable, the loose rock coming down it was a bit unsettling, but most people were running down it. All in all it was a great walk and the vistas were incredible.

Fallrats, I've enjoyed the bits you have posted on a couple of threads here. I hope you're going to do a full trip report!

Lee Ann