Tongariro vs Fiordland: Two National Parks, Two Completely Different New Zealands
Every New Zealand trip involves the same agonizing calculation: too many incredible places, not enough time. And the question I get asked more than any other is some variation of "Should I do Tongariro or Milford Sound?"
The honest answer is both. But if you're working with 10-14 days in NZ — which most international visitors are — you probably need to choose. I've spent serious time in both parks, and they're so different that comparing them feels almost unfair. But let's do it anyway.
Why These Two Get Compared
Tongariro and Fiordland sit at opposite ends of what New Zealand does best. Tongariro is fire — volcanic craters, steaming vents, lava flows, emerald mineral lakes. Fiordland is ice — glacial fjords, 1,000-meter cliffs, temperate rainforest, waterfalls that drop straight into the sea.
Both are dual UNESCO World Heritage Sites (natural and cultural). Both have iconic "Great Walks" — the Tongariro Alpine Crossing and the Milford Track. And both draw massive tourist numbers, though in very different ways.
Landscape & Scenery
Tongariro delivers an alien landscape. Three active volcanoes — Ruapehu (2,797m), Ngauruhoe (2,287m), and Tongariro (1,978m) — dominate the central plateau. The terrain shifts from tussock scrub to barren volcanic desert to steaming craters. The Emerald Lakes, sitting in volcanic craters at 1,700m, are colored by dissolved minerals and look like something from another planet. It's Mars with better grass.
Fiordland is dramatic in a Lord of the Rings sort of way — which makes sense, because it was literally used for Lord of the Rings. Milford Sound (technically a fjord) has 1,200m cliffs rising from the water, Stirling Falls dropping 155m into the sound, and a permanent rainforest canopy that gets 7 meters of rain per year. It's moody, atmospheric, and enormous.
Winner: Depends entirely on what you want. Tongariro is raw and otherworldly. Fiordland is epic and lush. I'll call it a draw, but if I'm being honest, Tongariro surprised me more.
The Alpine Crossing is the better day hike. Period. You go from scrubland to volcanic crater to emerald lakes to bush in one day. The elevation profile is intense — you climb to 1,886m at Red Crater — but anyone with reasonable fitness can do it.
The Milford Track is the better multi-day experience. Four days through glacier-carved valleys, over a mountain pass, past the 580m Sutherland Falls — it's extraordinary. But it requires planning: booking months ahead, carrying multi-day gear, and committing four full days.
Winner: Tongariro for efficiency and wow-factor-per-hour. Fiordland if you've got the time and budget.
Accessibility & Logistics
Tongariro is on the North Island, roughly equidistant from Auckland (4 hours) and Wellington (4.5 hours). National Park Village is the main base, connected by the Northern Explorer train. Rental car is easiest. The Alpine Crossing shuttle system is well-organized — multiple operators, NZD 35-45 one-way.
Fiordland is remote even by NZ standards. Milford Sound is 4 hours from Queenstown via one of the world's most spectacular drives (the Milford Road through the Homer Tunnel). There's no public transport — you drive, take a tour bus, or fly. Day cruises on Milford Sound run NZD 50-300 (~$30-183) depending on the vessel.
Winner: Tongariro. Easier to reach, cheaper to explore, and more flexible.
Weather
Let me be blunt: both parks have terrible weather. But different flavors of terrible.
Tongariro is exposed alpine terrain. The Alpine Crossing sits at 1,500-1,886m, and weather changes in minutes — I went from sunshine to horizontal sleet in the time it took to eat a sandwich at Red Crater. Wind is the main enemy. The crossing gets shut down entirely maybe 50 days per year due to unsafe conditions.
Fiordland is the wettest place in New Zealand. Milford Sound averages 6,813mm of rain per year. That's almost 7 meters. It rains roughly 200 days per year. But here's the strange thing — rainy days in Fiordland are actually spectacular. The rain creates thousands of temporary waterfalls cascading down the cliffs. Some people say Milford Sound is better in rain.
Winner: Tongariro has more good-weather days. Fiordland turns bad weather into a feature. Draw.
Budget
Expense
Tongariro (per day)
Fiordland (per day)
Budget accommodation
NZD 30-50 ($18-30)
NZD 40-60 ($24-37)
Mid-range accommodation
NZD 90-180 ($55-110)
NZD 150-350 ($91-213)
Food
NZD 25-50 ($15-30)
NZD 30-60 ($18-37)
Activities
NZD 35-120 ($21-73)
NZD 50-300 ($30-183)
Total (budget)
NZD 90-220 ($55-134)
NZD 120-420 ($73-256)
Winner: Tongariro, by a lot. Cheaper accommodation, free hikes (you only pay for shuttles), and Ohakune's NZD 7 meat pies are hard to beat.
Cultural Significance
Both parks are sacred to Maori. Tongariro was the first land in the world gifted by indigenous people for national park protection — paramount chief Te Heuheu Tukino IV gifted the peaks to the nation in 1887 to prevent them being sold to settlers. The volcanoes are ancestors of the Ngati Tuwharetoa people. Climbing Ngauruhoe is tolerated but not encouraged.
Fiordland is deeply significant to Ngai Tahu, who know Milford Sound as Piopiotahi — named after a now-extinct bird that flew there in grief after Maui died. The park contains important mahinga kai (food-gathering) sites and traditional trails.
Winner: Both are profoundly significant. Tongariro's gifting story is uniquely powerful.
Best For Each Type of Traveler
Short trip (1-2 days): Tongariro. Do the Alpine Crossing and Tama Lakes.
Photography trip: Fiordland. The dramatic light, waterfalls, and fjord compositions are unmatched.
Families: Fiordland. Milford Sound cruise is accessible to all ages and fitness levels.
Budget travelers: Tongariro. Everything's cheaper and most hikes are free.
Lord of the Rings fans: Both, frankly. But Tongariro has Mount Doom (Ngauruhoe).
Multi-day hikers: Fiordland. The Milford Track is a once-in-a-lifetime walk.
The Verdict
If you have 2-3 days and want maximum impact for minimum budget, go to Tongariro. The Alpine Crossing is the single best day hike in New Zealand, Tama Lakes is criminally underrated, and the volcanic landscape is unlike anything else in the country.
If you have 4-5+ days and a bigger budget, Fiordland is unforgettable — especially if you walk the Milford Track or spend a night on a cruise vessel in the sound.
But here's what I actually think: plan for both. Drive from Tongariro south to Fiordland over two weeks and you'll see two completely different New Zealands. Fire and ice. Neither is better. Both are essential.
After the volcanoes, the golden beaches of Abel Tasman on the South Island make a stunning contrast. For the adventure capital, head to Queenstown.
