Tangariro National Park

From Taupo we drove to the Tongariro National Park. Over the night it had started to rain (the first rain since we came to New Zealand!) and so we were not in the mood to discover a lot. Also was the highly praised view and landscape of the park not really visible due to the dense mist.

Where is Oli?

We planned to stay in the National Park for two days and to do the Tongariro Crossing (19,4 km!) on our second day. The weatherforecast was rain clearing in the morning and wind up to 60km/h (the crossing is only possible below 65km/h...).

Although it was uncertain, if we could do the crossing, we got up at 5 am and went to the shuttlebus assembly. It was still raining and visibility was very poor... However, the wind was not dangerous anymore and so we started our hike.

Before...

The path is in an extreme good condition that would have enabled us to proceed quite fast. But we started the hike rather slow in the hope the weather would clear up when we reach the higher grounds...

Where is Flo? (She's much better in hiding than Oli! ;-) )

After a steep climb we reached a little plateau where the mist began to clear up.

Suddendly there it was just on the left of our path: Mt Ngauruhoe aka "Mount Doom" (Lord of the Rings).

As it had been covered by clouds since we entered the Tongarira National Park, the sudden sight of this striking mountain was breathtakingly awesome and really a highlight of our hike. We really enjoyed the special effects of the nature!

When we reached the interception where a 3km return path leads to Mt Tongariro summit Oli couldn't resist and left poor Flo waiting in the cold wind... (but he was back in 35 minutes!)

When we had climbed the red crater we had a stunning view over the Emerald Lakes.

Their intense green colour that contrasted with the vast brown and grey landscape around them fascinated us.

Walking on, a view over red crater, Mt Ngauruhoe and Mt Ruapehu (the snowy one) struck us.

The landscape changed from rocky into grassy and from grassy into a dense forest. And finally we reached a little tired the carpark at the end of the Tongariro Crossing.

... and after!

It was really a beautiful hike. No wonder it was chosen by National Geographic as the most beautiful hike in the world!