Hey guys! Long time no post. I’ve got pictures of so many experiences that I’ve been ready to show you guys. But I haven’t had the time, the right mindset, or the decent internet access to sit down and write this past month. First world problems, I know. So far with this job we’ve been to Rotorua, Taupo, Tauranga, Palmerston North, Wellington, and Hawke’s Bay. Most of these cities we’ve been sent to twice and this is the end of our second one in Taupo. So I guess it’s fitting that I finally tell you guys about the Tongariro Alpine Crossing. All Josh and I knew about the Tongariro before we did it is that it’s a major tourist destination not only to foreigners, but to Kiwis as well. When we booked it we were told that it’s a 7 hour walk and we would need a full day’s with of water, snacks, walking boots and a few layers. Apparently we were about to climb a snow-capped mountain. So yeah, turned out it was gonna be a bit more serious than a casual stroll... but we were still up for it. Josh will do anything that involves being outdoors, and I had read so much about the fantastic views that we would get to see on the trail. So we were all in. We booked a bus to pick us up that Saturday at 7am and started on the trail at 9.
The bus dropped us off at Mangatepopo hut where you could get the sickest view of Mt Ngauruhoe.
The trail was pretty chill at first. You can see from the diagrams that my nerdy architecture-self made, for the first quarter of the trail there's no major change in elevation. Then all of a sudden past the Soda Springs waterfall, you've got a solid couple of hours of steep as fuck uphill. There was literally a "turn back now" sign that warned if someone's not "fit enough", they should seriously consider turning around and going home. And of course, my fat-ass didn't listen. I still don't regret it, because the views that came a few hours after that sign were insanely worth it.
We basically saw almost every type of natural environment on this 9 hour walk. The Tongariro is actually holy Maōri land that is open to the public. When you walk through it, you definitely understand why an ancient tribe would believe it’s part of the spiritual world.
The beginning of the trail we were walking through gorgeous untouched volcanic rocks that lead to the soda springs waterfall. Then we were on a 2 hour uphill treck until we reached the snow-capped edges of Mount Tongariro. After a whole lot of white, there was nothing but color to follow with the Red Crater, and like 4 different lakes that were all different shades of blue. The Emerald Lake is sulfuric, so it’s super opaque with a deep emerald color (fitting name). The Blue Lake is freshwater that’s at the peak of Mount Tongariro. I would have sat in front of this lake for hours if Josh would have let me. But at this point, we had to make a run to Ketetahi. We had 2 hours to finish a 3 hour decent before our bus would leave without us. Miraculously, we made it just in time. It’s an experience I definitely want to repeat sometime. I just need to be in better shape next time.
More pictures of Tongariro to come within these next couple of days, I promise.
