For those who seek more than just scenery — for those who seek perspective, privacy, and purpose — River Birches Lodge offers an exclusive, privately guided journey across the world-renowned Tongariro Alpine Crossing.
Recognised as one of the planet’s greatest day hikes, the Crossing takes you through a dramatic landscape of ancient lava flows, steaming vents, alpine meadows, and vivid crater lakes — a terrain shaped by volcanoes and revered by Māori for centuries., not an ordinary trek.
At River Birches, we curate an exclusive alpine experience, designed for active, discerning guests who expect the exceptional. Your private mountain guide — one of a select few with official concession to guide in the park — leads you away from the crowds and deep into the soul of the land. Along the way, you'll gain rare insights into Tongariro’s ecology, geology, and cultural significance — far beyond what the unaccompanied eye can see.
Every detail is taken care of:
Personal briefing the evening prior
Premium alpine gear provided (boots, fleeces, poles)
Private door-to-door transport
Comprehensive packed lunch
Expert local guide ensuring both safety and enrichment
This is a single-party, private guided experience, priced at NZD $1,950 for 1–2 guests.
Whether you are training for Kilimanjaro or simply looking to reconnect with nature in absolute comfort and safety, our Tongariro experience is designed to challenge, inspire, and restore — all in a single unforgettable day.
Tongariro River
American writer Zane Gray fished this river the 1920s regaling readers with tales of huge Rainbow and Brown trout in numbers so prodigious it caused a stampede of fisherman from around the globe, fishing its fast flowing teal-green waters. Shortly after, even the Queen Mother was drawn to fish the Tongariro at the area now known as the Duchess Pool.
The River Birches lodge is located alongside the banks of the Tongariro making it the perfect refuge for all manner of river based activity, from fly fishing iconic trout pools, through to whitewater rafting, kayaking and hiking the scenic bush-lined walks spanning both sides of the river.
