Visitors can now book Waihohonu and Mangatepopo huts for overnight trips while Oturere Hut is rebuilt.
Both huts have mattresses, toilets, heating, a water supply and cooking facilities. Waihohonu Hut will also have full-time wardens over summer.
DOC Tongariro senior ranger Heritage and Visitors, Jenny Hayward, says the huts are good options for families looking for overnight adventures in Tongariro National Park.
“Mangatepopo is just a 20-minute walk from the road end, which makes it a good first hut stay for young families. Waihohonu Hut is about 15km from Whakapapa Village on a well-formed track – a manageable challenge with great rewards,” she says.
Because the full Tongariro Northern Circuit cannot be walked while Oturere Hut is being rebuilt, hut fees have been reduced. Adults are $25 per night (usually $44), children $12.50, and infants free.
The Tongariro Northern Circuit Great Walk remains closed while DOC works with Ngāti Hikairo ki Tongariro to replace the 50-year-old Oturere Hut.
Bookings for Mangatepopo and Waihohonu huts are open for stays between October 24, 2025 and April 30, 2026.
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