Clever Campervans

21/01/2026

🌧️ Weather Update for Anyone Travelling This Week 🌧️
Just a quick heads‑up — the weather might look “not too bad” in places, but the roads are pretty saturated and there’s a lot of surface water around and lots of landslides and slips. Even without major flooding, conditions can change quickly and driving can get sketchy fast.

If you’re able to delay travel, shuffle plans, or stay put for a day or two, it’s worth doing. This isn’t overreacting — it’s just being practical while the system moves through.

Let things settle, keep an eye on updates, and travel when it’s genuinely safe again. Stay dry, stay aware, and take it easy out there. 💛

16/11/2025

⚠️ Tongariro Alpine Crossing reopens 9am Mon 17 Nov ⚠️
Track is safe, but Mangatepopo Road & car park remain closed (shuttle access only). Mangatepopo Track stays closed. Please visit respectfully as the landscape recovers.

👉 More info: https://www.doc.govt.nz/news/media-releases/2025-media-releases/tongariro-alpine-crossing-reopens/

⚠️ Tongariro Alpine Crossing to reopen ⚠️

The iconic and beloved Tongariro Alpine Crossing will reopen at 9am on Monday 17 November.

Our team and Fire and Emergency NZ are confident the track is safe for visitors.

Mangatepopo Road and the car park have suffered some damage, and the car park is currently unsafe to use. Transport to the Tongariro Alpine Crossing will be limited to shuttle drop-offs and pick-ups only. For safety reasons, private cars will not be allowed to enter Mangatepopo Road.

Areas of the Mangatepopo (Ditch) Track were heavily affected, and it will take time to understand the impact on flora and fauna. Due to this, the Mangatepopo Track will remain closed until further notice.

We ask for people who wish to visit do so respectfully and compassionately. It won’t look quite the same as it did before, from the scorch marks on the pou Te Ririo, to the blackened landscape.

All other tracks in Tongariro National Park will be open from 9am on Monday for visitors to enjoy, as will Mangatepopo Hut. Bookings resume from 1pm on Sunday 16 November.

More information here: https://www.doc.govt.nz/news/media-releases/2025-media-releases/tongariro-alpine-crossing-reopens/

📸: Pou Te Ririo at the start of Tongariro Alpine Crossing survived the fire | Libby O’Brien/DOC

10/11/2025

🔥 Tongariro Forest Fire – 2800 Hectares Burnt, Rāhui in Place

A major fire has swept through Tongariro Forest, burning over 2800 hectares of native bush. In response, two rāhui have been placed by local iwi to protect the land and its mauri (life force) while it heals.

🚫 Rāhui Areas & Duration

• Mangatepopo Valley & Hut: Rāhui in place until 8 December 2025.
• Sections of the Tongariro Alpine Crossing: Rāhui in place until 15 December 2025.

🌿 What’s a rāhui?
It’s a cultural restriction asking people to stay away from affected areas out of respect. It’s not a legal ban—but it’s deeply important. If you’re travelling in the area, please honour the rāhui and avoid entering closed tracks, even if they look accessible.