Auckland to Whakapapa!

Trip Start Jan 11, 2008
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Trip End Feb 22, 2008


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Sunday, January 13, 2008

Early arrival at 6:30am in Auckland, why not jump on a bus and make our way to National Park/Whakapapa to start our hike the same day (ooooh we are a bit tired!).  We catch a bus in Manakau City (between airport and Auckland), getting some fuelite at a local gas station along the way to the bus stop via taxi.  The bus drive is a milk run through the north island, stopping at every little town, but the land is green and full of sheep so it is a somewhat pleasant albeit long drive.  We finally arrive in National Park (larger town on the edge of Tongariro National Park) at 3:40pm, where we have pre-arranged for a shuttle van to pick us up and drive to Whakapapa village (about 20km or so) where we will start hiking from (after dropping off our non hiking bags at Skotel Hotel).  Rick the driver gives us a good description of the history of the volcanoes (Mt. Ruapehu errupted last Sept a bit).  The weather was looking good for the week!
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