We booked the Tongariro Crossing shuttle service provided by 'Tongariro Expeditions' on 21 April.

Instead of 7am (scheduled), we left Whakapapa Village by 7.50am and hit the track by 8.15am. The friendly bus driver told us to be at the end of the crossing no later than 4.30pm. After climbing Mt. Ngauruhoe (highly recommended), we walked straight to the car park at the end of the crossing. We were 15 mins late and the bus had already left. We asked Scotty Barry (bus driver Tongariro expeditions, going to Taupo) where our shuttle bus is or what options we have to get back to Whakapapa Village. Instead of offering us any help he answered in a very rude and unfriendly way, informing us that the bus had left and that he can't help us. After that, he turned around and left.

Fortunately, a very friendly guy from Roam (shuttle service) gave us a free lift back to Whakapapa village.

With an hour delay in the morning, we would have expected to get at least an extra hour for the hike. In that case, we would have arrived on time easily!

Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in April 2011