I.DID.IT.I did it!The Tongariro Crossing!I thought I wouldn't do it,that I wouldn't have time and that it will too expensive and bla bla..but I did it.Another dream achieved!=).
I decided to go with Nakedbus.com,New Zealand's newest,low cost and no frills bus service.It's something like Air Asia,you book and pay online,and it was easy coz I have an Internet banking account here so I got the seats at absolutely cheap prices.Since I'm also working in the backpackers as an exchange staff,I called up the backpackers in Taupo and asked if they could give me a discount of some sort and bingo!$6 off my 2 nights accomodation!Just like that!So armed with my backpack,3 cans of tuna,1 loaf of bread,and some munchies,I started my journey from Auckland to Rotorua at 12pm,where I will change coaches in Rotorua to Taupo.I arrived in Taupo at about 5.15pm,and we couldn't stop at the I Site as the New Zealand Ironman competition was being held that day and the roads were all closed.The bus dropped us off one block away from the I Site and I walked to Burkes Backpackers,where the owner was already waiting for me.
After checking in,I asked him to book me for Tongariro Expeditions shuttle the next day,and went to fix myself a quick dinner of tuna sandwich and sleep early for the big day tomorrow.However,I think I was too excited,so I hardly slept.I was to wait for Tongariro Expeditions at 5.40am,so I woke up at 5am,had breakfast,grabbed my pack which I've already packed the night before with 2.25 litres of water,1 orange,lunch,raincoat,bandana,cap,first aid kit and extra pair of socks.The shuttle came at 5.45am,and it was packed.Suddenly I felt like I was doing something wrong.Like,what if I can't do it?I've not been active for quite sometime.But it's too late to turn back.I settled among the sleepy faces of all the other backpackers,and silently prayed that I can be done with this soon.
We arrived at Turangi to pick up some passengers,and the lady next to me got chatty and we got talking.She was from New Plymouth and loves tramping,so her husband and a few friends decided to give this a go.Seeing her so prepared gave me the chills,I was ready to call it quits when we received a piece of paper detailing our journey.It had all the fine prints,and also some important information regarding the conditions of the track,and it was to be kept with us all the time.By the time we arrived at Chateau Tongariro and at the start of the track at Mangatepopo car park,it was already 7.15am,the sun was rising and we all got off the bus,ready to start the 8 hour gruelling trek across Tongariro National Park.
Tongariro National Park,declared a World Heritage Area,consists of 3 mountains,Mt Ngauruhoe (pronounced Ngau-ru-ho-e),Mt Tongariro and Mt Ruapehu.Mt Ngauruhoe is Mordor in the film Lord of The Rings.The road leading to Tongariro Crossing track was apparently used for the opening scenes of LOTR-The Two Towers.This is an active volcano,and Mt Ruapehu last erupted in 1996.Mangatepopo carpark was at an altitude of 1190m,and we are going to trek 17 kilometres one way and come out to Ketetahi car park,and will be going as high as 1886m.
The hike to Mangatepopo Valley was nice and easy,the sun was just coming up and the track was flat,so everyone was in high spirits.I personally opted to go early (5.40am) and take the last bus out at 4.30pm,so I aimed at finishing the crossing at 4.15pm the latest.I have my cellphone with all emergency numbers ready for any disaster that may strike,so they will send a seach and rescue party for me!LOL..
Next came the steep track leading to the South Crater,christened "The Devil's Staircase".Boy and it DOES live up to its name!It was a section of steep rocks and volcanic debris,so we had to push ourselves to get to the top.I took about 1 hour on this section alone.It was hard.It was really hard.I stopped for breaks for 5 times.After huffing and puffing,I finally made it to the top,and after striking poses for some photographs,we started for Red Crater Ridge,our last big climb for the day.During this time I made friends with Lily,a Chinese-American who's here on a holiday.We hiked up Red Crater Ridge together,and it chill winds were blasting in our faces and we were just wearing singlets!Afraid I might get hypothermia (a lil too far fetched eh?=p),I quickly put on my jacket,and hiked up in the cold wind.My fingers were freezing and I couldn't take my camera out of the case.Red Crater Ridge was dangerous,as it was steep,slippery,narrow and had big drops on both sides.The leaflet warned us that "please don't walk too close to the edge of the track as if you fall you will never come out,"On my left was the drop to South Crater desert,and on my left,the drop all the way into the active volcano of Red Crater.The wind was pushing us,and we found ourselves on hand and knees,but we persisted,and we finally arrived at the summit.
From the summit it was an awesome view of Red Crater,Blue Lake and Emerald Lake.I honestly was amazed looking as something as awesome as this.The Emerald Lake was green and was glittering in the sunlight.Since its an active volcano there's also hot spots on the ground.Nevertheless,we had our lunch here and proceeded to descend by slipping down the scree,which was dangerous as we had to carefully slip down as well as maintain our balance.As soon as we were down,it was a nice and easy hike along the dead flat desert of volcanic rocks and sand towards Blue Lake,and it was all downhill from there.
We got caught in bad weather while still high up the mountains,but it didn't rain too heavily.The smell of sulphur,like rotten eggs,were all over.We walked the zig zagged track for 2 hours before reaching Ketetahi Hut (1450m),where we stopped for a break and proceeded non stop for the next 2 hours to Ketetahi car park where the track ends.
I arrived at the end of the track at 3pm.With all that breaks I took!I was so tired,yet so happy that I finally did it.I felt like collapsing on the grass and sleeping,but we were required to sign in with our driver,so by the time we located him it was time for the 3.30pm take off.I hopped into the bus,and just died in my seat.
Arrived Taupo at 4.15pm.Celebrated my walk with a cup of coffee.Will have my celebratory beer when I get back to Auckland.Had showers,early dinner,and slumped on my bed,and slept soundly until the next day.
Checked out at 10am,had breakfast,and was debating if I shoud stay in Taupo for another night/go to Rotorua and stay there for 1 night/go back to Auckland.Finally I decided to go to Rotorua.Arrived in Rotorua at 12pm.The smell of rotten eggs was so empowering.Rotorua,the geothermal activity capital in New Zealand,was literally in thermal smokes everywhere.I went to the I Site to consider my options.Staying in Rotorua wasn't an option at all.It was too touristic and I didn't like that.The four main attractions of thermal pools and the Polynesian Spa were too far away and I didn't feel like spending more than I have to,after splurging for Tongariro,but that's a different story altogether.So I booked the bus to Auckland at 4pm.To kill time,I wandered around and arrived at Kuirau Park,where some geothermal activity was taking place,like boiling mud and thermal pools.I soaked my tired feet for a while in the lukewarm waters,had some fish and chips for lunch,boarded the bus and arrived in Auckland at 8.20pm.
It was a good trip,I took quite a bit of pictures,and if I wasn't working on Wednesday,I probably would have continued my journey to Coromandel!But I am booked for the East Coast on 19th-21st of March,and Rean is going to join me!We met up today for coffee,and she was so nice to bring me dinner.Pasta.And since I practically live on a backpacker diet,I would say that the pasta was the best wholesome food I had this week!Thanks Rean!You're the best,buddy!
Do check out the pictures of Tongariro Crossing and Rotorua.The Crossing has every right in earning its status as the best one day hike in New Zealand and one of the top ten great hikes in the world.I will definitely do it again if I could (but please airlift me to the top of the Devil's Staircase please!LOL!).
See you guys soon!