Driving from Auckland to Tongariro yesterday, surrounded by pristine nature, it was easy to understand why New Zealand is such a magnet for outdoors enthusiasts.
Tongariro National Park holds one of the best day hikes in New Zealand and we‘re ready to get a head start tasting it early in the morning, after camping just outside of the park boundaries. The Alpine Pass, which is part of the Northern Circuit, leads through volcanic landscape of craters, steaming vents, and abnormally blue lakes. Crossing through tussock and alpine scrub valleys laced with water springs, it leads to bare rock desert landscape at higher altitudes and affords spectacular views along the entire trail, with possible side trials to Mt. Tongariro and Ngauruhoe. We start the hike from Mangatepopo Road trailheadout shortly before 10am with plans of freedom camping for the night, as staying in Spartan mountain DOC huts gets really expensive - $50/person/night. The weather is absolutely beautiful throughout the day and we feel absolutely on top of the world at 1900m. We realize how fortunate we’ve been with gorgeous weather, when the next day heavy fog and clouds accumulate over the mountains as we descent.
Tongariro National Park holds one of the best day hikes in New Zealand and we‘re ready to get a head start tasting it early in the morning, after camping just outside of the park boundaries. The Alpine Pass, which is part of the Northern Circuit, leads through volcanic landscape of craters, steaming vents, and abnormally blue lakes. Crossing through tussock and alpine scrub valleys laced with water springs, it leads to bare rock desert landscape at higher altitudes and affords spectacular views along the entire trail, with possible side trials to Mt. Tongariro and Ngauruhoe. We start the hike from Mangatepopo Road trailheadout shortly before 10am with plans of freedom camping for the night, as staying in Spartan mountain DOC huts gets really expensive - $50/person/night. The weather is absolutely beautiful throughout the day and we feel absolutely on top of the world at 1900m. We realize how fortunate we’ve been with gorgeous weather, when the next day heavy fog and clouds accumulate over the mountains as we descent.
Red Crater
Emerald Lakes
immense landscape - tiny Sebastian by the lake
Hike up the steep face of the crater was brutal in the morning, making us feel that much greater at the top.
the weather changed dramatically as we were almost past the last section of the trail
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