|
  | |  |
In a little town called National Park
Entry 69 of 81 | show all | print this entry |
Whilst I have been traveling in NZ people have been telling me about an amazing day walk that you can undertake where you walk through amazingly different landscapes. The first time I was in the area the weather was attrocious so no chance to make the crossing but this time it was all good.
The walk is called the Tongariro crossing which gives views to Mount Doom (in Lord of the rings) and is a 17km walk that starts in bushwalks and take you up volvanoes to see amazing views of crates, lakes and of course mount Doom. It is a seriosly long walk which we were hating our guide that morning as we dropped us off at the exit (this would mean walking a 1km incline in stead of 0.5km) to walk to the start, effectively doing it the wrong way round. The bonus being we had much of the walk to ourselves (start and finish), walked down the devil stairs case as oppposed to up. However we did have the demoralising point when we were at our first rest point (at one third) and we met all the day hikers who coming from the opposite direction had almost finished.
But the walk was so worth the effort. Halve way through we had to scamble of a sheer scree face (made harded by people on their way down it) to reach the top of the red crater where we had views across the valley. This was the last climb for us and was the hardest climb. As a treat, Laro had bought up a beer for us all share and Abi had Easter eggs. This was Easter sunday, so for lunch we sat overlooking a crater, Mount Doom, eating sandwiches, Easter eggs and a part share of beer with geothermal stream rising through the mountain to warm our bottoms. A bit different to going to my mum's for Easter lunch!
So then we were on our way down, and eventually after 7hr, 1min and 40 seconds we were complete. I can't say enough how amazing the views are on the crossing. Once we had left the volcanic area we were back into bushland, looking back the area looks cold and dark and bare. It is a hard walk but I would definetly repeat!
http://www.tongarirocrossing.org.nz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=13&Itemid=27
So at this point we haven't seen our accomodation. We were staying in the Park hotel (in bunk rooms) in National Park. This was the first National Park in NZ so they originally called the village that sprung up next door as National Park. We were staying in such nice accomodation. Comfy beds and an outdoor spa. You can guess right, as soon as we got there we all jumped in. Then it was off to the National Park pub for dinner.
The accomodation was so nice I didn't want to leave so Stef, Pauling and I decided to stay on an extra day and go for a short walk. We attempted to walk upto the crater lake at Ruapehu summit. This is a story called Alex goes missing. At last moment an Austrain guy called Alex decided to join us. Half way through our hike, Abi and Stef and I decide to go back. It was nearly 2pm, we were no where nearer the top, the weather was closing in and the lifts close at 4pm. Alex decides to go on against our advice. So Stef, Abi and I sit in the cafe near the chair lifts hoping that we will come back on time. Many cups of tea later and we are told to get on the lifts before they close, no Alex. This was a really unpleasant two hours while we had to complete a missing person report on a gus we hardly knew while search parties starting going out to look for him. The selfish idiot had over looked time, made it to the lake, but didn't leave enough time to get back to the lifts. He was spotted by the lift operators who stayed late in case he made it back on his own. We were glad he was safe but could have hit him, nearly did.
So off we went to the pub again, due to the stress we did have to drink! Which resulted in a late night back at the hostel on beers that Deano (the manager from the pub) brought over and Stef's supply of spirits, where did the bottles of Southern comfort and Jack beam come from. So the next morning I woke up with a hangover and decided that was not the morning to leave the Park. Instead I would have a lazy day sitting in the spa not doing very much and maybe a trip to the pub.
Then came the next day and I still did not leave. I was going to be on the only passenger on Vino's bus so he persuaded me it would be a really good idea to stay another day in the park so he could have a day off. So Deano, Vino and I went off to play on bush buggies. That night Deano took me out for dinner in a different pub in the village (there are only 3 pubs) where amazingly I actually bumped into people from the UK. It was the usual story where I spotted the guy. He start giving each other looks before one of us is brave enough to do that is that really you conversation. So far I have only seen one friend from the UK so to randomly bump into people was absoltuly fab.
So the following day I actually did manage to leave the Park. Deano gave me a lift back to Auckland which was fab as it meant no bus for me and I actually got to drive. It has been nearly 7 months since I have been in a car and it wasn't too bad. OK it was an automatic which I just find wrong. Like when you brake to stop there is no clutch so your clutch foot is trying to press on a pedal that doesn't exist. Deano found it very amusing when everytime I tried to indicate I messed up the wipers. Sparkle I miss you!
Oh - what am I going to say about Auckland - it is a big city. I don't really like cities...... get me out of here.
Where I stayed:
Park Hotel
|
|
If you like this entry, search for other entries from New Zealand or try a new search. |
| |
Back to Entry - Back to Home
|
3 votes 
