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Tongariro National Park, 3 Sisters, Waterfalls and more...



Tongariro National Park

The national parks in New Zealand are free for all to enter, hike the trails and see the sights.  One of the best day walks in all of New Zealand is the Tongariro Alpine Crossing within the Tongariro National Park.   While it is one of the best walks, it is not for the faint of heart.  The Alpine Crossing hike (or track as they are called in NZ) is 12 miles (20.2 km) one way with a 3923 ft (1196 m) elevation gain.  The website for the Alpine Crossing describes the track as 'steep and undulating'.  We can attest that is an accurate description.


Mt Ngauruhoe from the Alpine Crossing Track

Because the trail is 12 miles one way and this is a day hike, most people pay for a shuttle to take you to the start of the trail.  The shuttles are operated by private companies and several options are available.  There are also shuttles that will pick you up in National Park Village or Taupo.  The downside to having them pick you up and drop you off at your accommodations is that you have to be down by the time the last shuttle leaves the finish.  If you drive to the finish and then take the shuttle to the start on Mangatepopo road, you don't have to be constantly check the time to make it to the shuttle.  We chose to stay on the north side of Lake Taupo, but the downside to that was that the drive to the parking lot was about 1.5-2 hours.  So it was an early morning.  Something to consider when choosing your accommodations if you are planning to do the crossing.


Mt Ngauruhoe from the Alpine Crossing Track



Mt Ngauruhoe from the Alpine Crossing Track

The beginning part of the hike was not bad at all.  It was relatively flat to soda springs the first 1-1.5 hours of the hike.  Then you get to Devil's Staircase when you climb about 600 feet (200 m) on the stairs.  There are signs along the track warning you of what is to come and suggesting you should turn back if you are already tired. 

Mt Ngauruhoe from south crater



Flat part of the track along the south crater

Mt Ngauruhoe from south crater

After the flat portion in south crater, you start climbing again.  Now you climb up to Red Crater.  It was definitely worth the climb.  We were a little disappointed as the clouds were very low and it had been drizzling since the beginning on the day we did the hike.  It was ok with us that it was cloudy and overcast, as it would have been much more challenging in full sun.

Climbing into the clouds which were obscuring the red crater



Best photo of the Red Crater that we could get at the time

Due to the clouds, we really could not see into the red crater much while we were up there.  But the clouds were breaking up as we crossed the top of red crater and looked down over the emerald pools and blue lake.  It was an amazing view!!

Blue Lake and an old lava flow

As we started our descent down from Red Crater to the Emerald Pools and Blue Lake, it was a very steep with loose rocks and dirt.  We were recommended to turn and step down sideways, which was helpful.

Emerald Pool

Emerald Pool


At Emerald Pool looking back up the trail to red crater

View looking back at red Crater from the Blue Lake

View looking back at red Crater from the Blue Lake

If you look carefully at the above two photos at the highest point in the pictures, you can just make out people standing at the top of the trail looking down into red crater.

Looking back at Red Crater in the center with an old lava flow to the right along the flat

Looking back at Red Crater in the center with an old lava flow (dark brown) just below it on the flat

View from the descending side of the trail looking out at Lake Rotoaira (near) and Lake Taupo (distance)

Small waterfall in stream from Ketetahi Springs
The hike down seemed almost worse to me due to the steep descent for over a 4 hour period.  It is counterintuitive, that the down could be worse than the up, but for me that was absolutely the case.  This was definitely the longest and hardest hike I have ever done.  

All in all, it was an amazing hike with equally amazing views.  It is a definite must do if you are able to handle difficult hikes with a long distance and huge elevation changes.   

Omaru Falls


This was a short hike to a viewing platform of this very pretty waterfall.  We stopped here on the way from Taupo west to New Plymouth.  It is also bit south of Waitomo Glowworm Caves, so if you are staying somewhere close to the caves it is worth a short detour.




Waitanguru Falls



This very pretty waterfall was not far from Omaru Falls.  It is a short way from the road, but the walkway was closed and John had to do a bit of scrambling to get to it.





3 Sisters


Along the west coast of the North Island in the north Taranaki region are the 3 sisters.  These rock formations sit on the beach near Tongaporutu.  There are now only 2 rock pillars standing along the black sand beach, as the third sister collapsed years ago.  


You will need to pay attention to the tides to get out on the beach to see these rock formations.  It is best to go the 2 hours before or after low tide as you will walk along the river to get out to the beach where they stand.  Also a smart bet to bring along flip flops or sandals to walk back along the black sand as it gets very hot in the sun.  We arrived at 9am and the sand was nice and cool, but by the time we left about 90 minutes later, the sand about burned the bottoms of our feet off!








There is a stone arch formed a little further down the beach

Beautiful living rock wall on the walk along the river

Unique crevices along the stone walls on the beach


Cool patterns in the sand

Snails and Barnacles on the rocks that are exposed during low tide

Snails and mussels on the rocks that are exposed during low tide

Snails and mussels on the rocks that are exposed during low tide




Egmont National Park

Lovely tree lined road into the Park

Crazy branching trees in the park


Lush green tree lined paths

We only had a few days in the New Plymouth area, so we did not have much time to explore Egmont NP, nor did we do any hikes up or on Mt. Taranaki (as my knees were still recovering from the Tongariro Alpine Crossing).  We also did not get any pictures of Mt. Taranaki as it was shrouded in clouds the entire time we were there.


Dawson Falls

We did hike to Dawson Falls, though, which was a very pretty hike.


Dawson Falls

Dawson Falls


Dawson Falls

Wellington


Skyline overlook from the top of the Wellington Cable Car

We spent a few days in Wellington before we took the ferry over to the South Island.  One full day we went to Kapiti Island to the bird sanctuary there.  Many of the photos of birds that we took on this trip were included on the previous blog post on birds.

Kapiti Island 
The weather wasn't the greatest the day we visited the Island, but we enjoyed our time there none the less.  We also visited Zealandia while we were in Wellington and those photos were also in the post on birds.

Kapiti Island looking back toward Wellington


And just like that, we bid farewell to the North Island and say hello to the South Island.  During our time exploring the North Island, we found there is really a lot to see and we are glad we spent some time here.


Here are our favorite North Island sights that you shouldn't miss if you are visiting:
1. Tongariro Alpine Crossing
2. Glow worm caves
3. Waterfalls - all of them
4.  3 Sisters
5.  Cathedral Cove
6.  Waimangu Volcanic Valley


Thing we could have skipped:  Wellington Cable Car


Additional expenses (in NZD):
Tongariro Shuttle to the start of the walk - $60/pp
Wellington Cable Car - $12/pp


Coming Soon...
South Island - Nelson, Marlborough Wine Region, Abel Tasman National Park and Farewell Spit

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