Toilets on the Tongariro Crossing: A Hiker’s Guide
Everything you ever wanted to know about toilets on the Tongariro Crossing.
The Tongariro Crossing, located in the Tongariro National Park, is a world-renowned hiking trail that attracts thousands of visitors every year.
While the trail offers breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape, it’s essential to know about the amenities available along the way, especially the toilets.🚽
The fact is that most people will drink about two litres of water on the walk, which takes 6-8 hours so you will need to empty your bladder!
First things first, there is a toilet at the Ketetahi car park, which is where the Tongariro Crossing shuttles depart from – so once you park your car, you can use the toilet before jumping on board your shuttle to the start of the crossing.
There are also toilets at the start of the crossing – there will often be a queue here as hikers, all arriving in groups at similar times, use the facilities before the walk starts. That said, the queues move quite quickly as there are lots of cubicles.
One thing that is worth mentioning is that all the toilets are long drops – meaning that while there is a normal seat, there is no bowl – there’s just a very deep hole beneath you. Remember, the crossing is in a remote area and there is no running water.
That said long drops are perfectly safe, not unusual and will get the job done.
Exact Location of Toilets on the Crossing:
The toilets are located at the following points along the trail:
- Mangatepopo Road end (start of the track)
- Soda Springs (km 3.5)
- South Crater (km 6.5)
- Red Crater (km 9.5)
- Blue Lake (km 12.5)
- Ketetahi Shelter (km 15.5)
- Ketetahi Road end (km 20.2)
Distance Between Toilets:
The toilets are spaced approximately 3-4 kilometres apart, with the longest stretch being between the South Crater and Red Crater toilets (about 4.5 kilometres).
Tips and Reminders:
- Be prepared for basic, non-flush toilets with no running water.
- Bring hand sanitiser and toilet paper, as supplies may be limited.🧻
- Respect the facilities and other hikers by keeping the toilets clean and tidy.
- Consider using the toilets at the car park and Mangatepopo Road end before starting your hike, as the first toilet on the trail is approximately 3.5 kilometres in.
Several of the toilets on the track have signs that tell you far the next set of toilets are, which is super handy when deciding if you should go now or hold on for a while.
Note that on hot days, it’s not unusual for there to be lots of flies buzzing around inside the cubicles. There’s not much you can do about this, apart from accepting that’s all part of the experience!
By knowing the location and distance between toilets on the Tongariro Crossing, you can better plan your hike and enjoy the stunning scenery without worrying about finding a bathroom when you need it.
Happy hiking!
