The Tongariro Crossing is one of the top 10 day walks in the world, this is the main reason we came to New Zealand and had been training for. We ended up doing it on my birthday and it was one of the best birthdays I have had, loved every minute of it. We were picked up from the Chateau at 5am- so it was a 4:30am start. The day was clear and cold and turned into a clear, cool sunny day- perfect for walking. We were on the trail by 5:30am and had the place to ourselves for the first 45 minutes before the young fit ones started passing us. It was a 21 km walk with a couple of steep climbs. The scenery was stunning. Started of with rocky, volcanic, lunar like landscapes and at the end we were back walking in a forest beside a stream a walk of contrasts.
Below is a picture of Bill and I with Mt Ngauruhoe in the background, which also happens to be Mt Doom if you are a Lord of the Rings fan- I didn't know that as I haven't watched the movies but my kids have so they new!
This was a flat section at the top of the first steep climb. There had been lots of rain the day before and then with overnight minus temperatures there was lots of ice and slush puddles.
This is Mt Ngauruhoe from a different side, thre was less snow this side than the view from the Chateau. Below is Bill in his orange jacket resting on a rock waiting for the rest of us to catch up. Very rocky and volcanic, a fascinating area.
Below is some of the rim ice that formed on the rocks and vegetation
Up the top of the second climb and the view into the Red Crater. Where we were standing to take these photos was on the boundary of two tectonic plates one had been forced under the other so that formed all the volcanic features and is responsible for all the volcanic activity. Down near Christchurch two tectonic plates are side by side and rub along side each other which is why that area is so unstable- loved the geography of the place!
Above is a view of the Blue Lake and below are the Emerald Lakes. We had brunch at the Emerald Lakes and just watched as 100's of walkers descended .
Our guide Andrea from Walking Legends- carried hot water, tea, coffee, hot chocolate and chocolate for us to enjoy- she was a great guide and had lots of information to share with us along the way.
By the end of the walk we were back in the forest, quite a contrast to the start of the day. We finished around 2pm, the bus and driver met us at the other end and had afternoon tea to celebrate in the sun before heading back to the Chateau where we enjoyed a lovely three course meal in the Chateau's dining room that night. It was my birthday so it was a lovely birthday dinner and it was a fantastic way to spend my birthday.
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