Tongariro Alpine Crossing

Made famous by Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy as Mordor, the Tongariro Alpine Crossing is the most beautiful day-long hike you can do in New Zealand. This is the country’s oldest national park, and the area provides awe-inspiring views. While hiking the 19.4km (12mi) crossing you’ll see all sorts of unique landforms along the way, including hot springs, lava flows and water-filled craters. It’s like walking through a fantasy land – or perhaps across the surface of Mars.