Bring on the snow!

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  Tongariro National Park, New Zealand
Monday, October 17, 2005

Monday 10th October 2005

We woke this morning around 7.30 am so after contemplating whether to get up, we were up and dressed for 8 am. We had pretty much packed most of our stuff last night. Vic was giving us a lift back to Auckland Airport to pick up our camper van at 10 am. We said goodbye to Scott and the kids and left Vic's house at 9 am to head off to Auckland. The weather seemed to brighten up the further north we went so it looked like it was going to be a nice day for us. We said bye to Vic at the airport, walked outside the terminal door at the airport to the bright green 'Ezy' van which took us to 'Ezy' where we collected our home and transport for the next 5 weeks or so. The camper van is so cool and we have called him Errol (as you have to give your camper van a name right?) It's white and tall enough to stand up in (even Dan!) it's got 2 heated gas rings, microwave, heated towel rail, storage and even a DVD player but I doubt we will use that whilst we are here we have that much to do

Dan at Waitonga Falls

! It's hard to imagine where it all fits but it does! We did a brief spot check and we were on our way, I drove the short distance across the road to the supermarket to pick up some stuff, it was all really exciting, we unpacked our rucksacks which was nice. We decided to head into Auckland to have a look around as we weren't too far away, there wasn't really much there and we didn't want to spend any money so when we got in touch with Kate and Andy we decided to head for the snow!! We took the 4 hour drive (Dan driving) down to Tongariro National Park to Whakapapa Village, a ski resort. Now the drive was just beautiful, we had the stereo on (reception not great mind!) and off we went along the lovely stretched roads of New Zealand, the views were amazing and just how imagined, mountains, winding roads, lots of fields and sheep! We took Highway 1 through Hamilton and right round Lake Taupo, the biggest lake in Nz. As we were driving into Whakapapa Village, it seemed we were the only ones on the road, we could see the lights of the village as it was going dark. We parked up the van at the holiday village itself opposite Kate and Andy's van and Andy had some wine waiting for us which was lovely. We weren't into bed late as it's been a long day.

Tuesday 11th October 2005

Andy woke us up this morning as he had got up early to check the snow reports for Mount Ruapehu, Whakapapa skifield and when it finally came through we were in luck, they had some snow! Kate and I were extra excited as it was our first time on the real slopes. First thing was first we went to 'Edge to Edge' a ski and snowboard hire shop to hire our kit for 5 days. I was so excited I couldn't contain myself! The snow capped mountains looked just amazing and we could see so much more in the day

Errol our campervan!

! We loaded our gear into the camper vans and off we went a short drive to the foot of the mountain. The drive was just as nice as yesterday. We would cross little bridges over beautiful streams and gorges. The roads got steeper and steeper and as we made it to the top our clutches from the camper vans were really smelling! We got kitted up and headed for the chairlift! Our boards had to be strapped to our feet so our first real attempt....the boys were watching us in case we fell! Well we got on okay, but getting off was a bit of a challenge to say the least as we were all over the place and laughing is an understatement! The amount of energy we have used today just picking ourselves up is unreal! Our first run wasn't even on the beginners slope so just as we were getting used to being on the boards, Andy gave us some turning tips, I went straight off the edge OVER the edge! I actually gave myself a bit of a fright but it was a good laugh for everyone else looking over at me! Dan gave me a hand lifting my board up and I struggled up afterwards. At lunchtime we stopped on the carpark in the campers for some light lunch and a rest then off to the nursery slope to have a proper practice session! The nursery slope had a rope pull and it was so hard to get up!!! The lads went off on the big slopes and off piste so we stayed and practiced! We lay in the snow and sunshine chilling out and chatting (isn't that what boarders are supposed to do? We had improved by the end of the day and definitely caught the sun our faces

Me on the chairlift YEY

. After the session today, we took a drive into Turangi to fill up on fuel and get some stuff for tea. We made our way back to Whakapapa Village where we were staying another night. On the drive back, we saw the most beautiful sight, a rainbow over in the field and the end was really close to us - see photo!

Wednesday 12th October 2005

Today we are boarding again but decided to make our way to Turoa as they have had more snow and apparantley, more runs for Kate and I to practice on which is good news. It was a 40 minute drive from Whakapapa. We loaded up and off we went, another pretty drive. The clouds were low and I was especially achey from yesterday but determined to keep going! We got ready and off we trudged to the chairlift which took us over the first peak to the nursery slope. It was so peaceful on the lift, the water was running down the cliffs and the snow at the bottom of the mountain was beginning to melt. We could carry our boards on this lift so the lads went off and us girls carried our boards on. The nursery slope is much longer and has a button lift which we pretty much mastered straight away which was good news. Kate and I spent all morning trying to link our turns. We fell over ALOT and I hurt my knee today, Kate her bum! I hit the rocks too (good job these are hired boards I thought!)

The beautiful rainbow!

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After lunch, we headed back up the mountain feeling very sore and bruised. Dan and I had
a couple of goes on the blue again and kept going until the chairlifts stopped in the afternoon and by the end of the day felt much more confident. Dan and Andy had a good run on the bigger slopes so were both happy!
We decided to stay in Ohakune tonight so we could come back tomorrow to Turoa so a short ride from the mountain we came across Ohakune Holiday Park which was fantastic, we pulled up next to a little stream running behind us. By this time we were so achey, they had a spa bath for $5 so Kate and I decided to share one! oooh eerr. As we had no bubbles, I decided to put some shampoo in (only a bit) and by the time I had switched the jets on, we couldn't see each other, we only had 35 minutes before we had to take the key back, we were laughing and absolutely covered in foam! When we opened the window, the foam was rising from the grid, well it was so hilarious and we had to leave the bath full of foam! So much for our 35 minute relaxation! We read in reception today in a leaflet that we are snowboarding on an active volcano which last erupted in 1996! After tea, we celebrated the birth of Andy's niece, Abigail with a bottle of champagne, few glasses of wine and laughs! We topped up on deap heat and went to bed a bit worse for wear

The moutain we boarded on!

!

Thursday 13th October 2005

Had a really rough night last night and was up a few times for a 'pee in the bushes'!The fact that my body was aching so much didn't help me sleep and I kept Dan up too. Andy went over to get the snow report and the mountain is closed today so it was kind of a blessing for poor Kate and I who could barely walk! It gave us chance to rebuild some strength for tomorrow. After a nice hot shower Dan went off to do some river fishing with Andy to see if they can catch some fish for tea and Kate and I caught up on some emails. We nipped into the small town of Ohakune to get some postcards and I took the opportunity to do our laundry. We walked to the river to meet up with the lads, Dan had been bitten all over the bottom of his legs from these little black bugs and he now looks like he's got chicken pox! (He has no long trousers and refuses to buy any!) No such luck in catching a fish so we headed back to the campsite for dinner and I sat and wrote my travel journal and wrote some postcards while it was quiet while the lads went off fishing again (determined!!). They came back empty handed so we made them go the fish and chip shop round the corner to make up for it! It certainly filled a gap and it wasn't long before we were in bed

Us in our lovely yellow goggles!

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Friday 14th October 2005

We woke this morning around 8 am to the sound of the little stream and the birds singing. As I was heading to the shower block, Andy walked past, smile beaming to let us know the mountain was open today so after a quick breakfast we got our kit from the drying room and off we headed for Turoa. The clouds were low today and it looked a bit rainy but after a good rest we are ready to go. We got on the chairlift over the first peak and straight away the lads went off to get some good runs in so Kate and I back and determined on the nursery slope. The snow didn't seem as good and it was a bit slushy today but our first few runs were fab and we were certainly coming on! After a couple of daring runs, I fell badly and really hurt my shoulder, it really hurt and knocked my confidence. I picked myself up and carried on and after a brief stop in the mountain cafe we decided to try the blue run again. After a fall on the lift (they are hard!) some guy just fell right in front of me and over I went again, the pain was unbearable so I had to take the chairlift back down for the day! I was gutted. We headed back to the carpark, I had some ibuprofen and a heat patch I lent to put on my wounded shoulder and we headed back to camp. It's been drizzling for most of the day today so Dan went off this afternoon to use the iternet and I had a rest and an hours sleeep

Waitonga Falls

. Dan and Andy had another attempt at fishing but no such luck again so they nipped to the supermarket to get some essentials. We didn't do too much tonight and I wasn't feeling 100% so it wasn't a late night.

Saturday 15th October 2005

Well I didn't sleep at all last night, I was up and down like a yo-yo! I felt a bit better for boarding and Kate's heat patch worked wonders. The weather seemed okay so after breakfast we sorted our stuff and headed back up that mountain for another crack! When we arrived the car park we had parked on all week was full so we were in the overflow carpark and had to get the bus to the bottom of the mountain, it was probably because it was the weekend we thought. It looked really cloudy today and it was so cold on the chairlift. We decided we would go straight onto the blue run today (boards attached!). When we got to the bottom of the chairlift, the queue was unreal, it was so huge and packed out, a change from in the week for sure. First go off the lift was fine and Dan helped me out as we were 3 to a lift it was that busy, I was worried about taking out another boarder! We managed a few turns on the not so steep bits but there were so many people. We had a few goes on that blue run and have decided we are going to miss Sunday and use our last day boarding on Monday when it's less busy. Guess what...Andy and Dan went river fishing and Kate and I caught 'happy hour' in the local mountain peak bar which was nice. We nipped to the supermarket and as the boys came back fishless, we nipped round the corner to pick up some kebabs for a special cheer them up tea!

Sunday 16th October 2005

Didn't wake until 9am this morning and I wasn't feeling 100%.
Ohakune, the place we are staying is the gateway to Tongariro National Park, it is New Zealand's oldest National Park and has some nice walks so as we decided to give snowboarding a miss today we decided to take some of the walks they have here. We packed a picnic lunch and headed to Waitonga falls in the camper vans. We parked up and took the 40 minute or so walk to the falls themselves which were really pretty. It is the highest falls in Tongariro National Park at 39 metres high. We sat and had our picnic lunch before heading back to the car park. The walk was just really nice and it was nice to be in the fresh air, a lot of uphill mind, but what goes up must come down hey! Andy wanted another attempt at catching some fish so on the way back to Ohakune, we stopped to do the Mangawhero Forest Walk, it was literally like walking through a jungle too, all tropical and warm. Andy found a place to fish with Dan and Kate and I sat on rocks in the stream taking it all in. As we drove back to the campsite after the walk, Andy decided to walk back and try fishing somewhere else, he came back with a wet leg and a sad face with empty hands, we couldn't stop laughing!

Monday 17th October 2005

This morning we woke up after quite a bizarre nights sleep. The other day when we were in town a siren was going off that sounded like an old war siren when the planes are ready to attack, Andy said it was a test and it was to let people know there was a volcanic eruption so when it was going off at 1.30 am this morning on my way back from the loo, I was a bit scared, Dan was half asleep and told me that if Andy's camper is still there then it was okay! I had this vision of us all evacuating or something (quite funny thought in the morning when properly awake!). We got up extra early and headed straight for Turoa for our last day boarding...
We parked right at the foot of the mountain and it didn't look busy at all which was good news. We were straight up there and straight on the blue runs. After a few attempts on the lift, we were kind of getting better! The first run was like pure ice and it wasn't easy so Kate and I stuck to the nursery slope for a few more runs afterwards until the sun softened the snow! We then headed up for a few goes on the blue run, it's been a good day apart from me taking a huge tumble landing upside down on the slopes, quite amusing for everyone else but the pain in my shoulder was just unbearable!!!! No pain no gain, Kate kept telling me! Dan went off and did another run of which when he got to the bottom he was so on a high! He loved it!
After boarding we headed back to 'Edge to Edge' to drop off our gear which was actually nice as it was taking up so much room in the camper van! and then back to Whakapapa Village for another night. We had showers and tea and played cards with some wine as it's our last night together tonight before we head our separate ways.

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