The Tongariro River Trail

AJ and I decided to do the Tongariro River Trail loop in Tūrangi. It’s a 15-kilometre track that follows the river, winds through beautiful native bush, and throws in a couple of swing bridges for fun.

We were ready for an adventure—but the weather clearly had other plans and was ready to steal the spotlight!

The first hour? Pouring. And not just a light mist—I’m talking full-on, rain-jacket-soaking, socks-squelching kind of rain. (Good thing we were wearing waterproof gear and shoes, but still!) Honestly, once you’re drenched, there’s not much else to do but laugh and lean into it!

About halfway through, the clouds gave us a break. The rain stopped, the air turned fresh, and everything glistened like it had just been washed (because, well, it had). We passed thick bush, open farmlands, and views of the river that made all the sogginess worth it.

Of course, just as we were patting ourselves on the back for outsmarting the weather, the skies opened up again. Classic.

The rainbow after the rain, as promised by the South Border

But despite the back-to-back soakings, we loved it. The trail was easy to follow, well-maintained, and varied enough to keep things interesting. We crossed swing bridges (yes, they bounce), got properly muddy, and powered through puddles deep enough to question our life choices—basically, all the ingredients for a good time!

Would I recommend it? Absolutely. Just check the forecast and maybe bring a backup pair of socks!

Quick trail notes:

• It’s a loop, about 15 km long (or you can do a shorter out-and-back version).
• It’s rated “easy” and great for walking or biking.
• The Tongariro River is famous for trout fishing—this trail runs right along it.
• There’s a handy map and info on doc.govt.nz Tongariro River Map
• Fun fact: The average walker takes about 3-4 hours to complete the whole thing—which checks out for us, rain delays and all.

We came back soaked, starving, and a little smug. There’s something wildly satisfying about choosing the trail anyway, even when the weather throws a tantrum. Sure, we could’ve stayed dry—but where’s the bragging rights in that?