What a tramp...

Not sufficed with our exceedingly long hike in Yosemite, we decided to take on the Tongariro Alpine Crossing - a 1 day hike (or I should say 'tramp' here rather than hike!), tipped as the best 1 day tramp in NZ. Well, with claims like that, it has to be done, no?!

So we arranged for the shuttle bus to pick us up and drop us to the start of the hike early on Wednesday morning...

...and we're off! 18km, not far you'd think... hmm, then add a few mountains! Still, it is all rather stunning...

That's a snow capped Mt Ngauruhoe, as is this...

( bit windy too!)

...so the route took us zig zaggedly up the left hand side of Mt Ngauruhoe...there is a side hike of an extra 3hrs to climb to the top of Ngauruhoe... er, no thanks!

...nice bit of mist nearing the sadle of Mt Ngauruhoe and Mt Tongariro! And down into the South crater...

...got VERY misty here...

...and even snowy coming up the other side of the crater!

Yup... knackering... I look practically ready to keel over! But not even half way here... onto red crater when we had an amazing break in the mist... with spectacular views, making it all worthwhile!

That's Ngauruhoe clearing behind us...

...time for a Panorama! Stunning!

...and ahead of us... beautiful!

We were so lucky it cleared for us, the previous day apparently had been terrible, it did come and go the mist but gave us many clear moments to see all the fabulous sights... and even a circular rainbow!

Oooooooooooooooo!

Red Crater... very uh, red, and large too!

No explanation necessary.

On the way down to the Emerald Lakes (half way hurray!)

Then it was a long, more gradual hike back down... with thermal springs steaming around us...

...and a schmokin' hot Volcano which erupted last year and is still smoking away...

The end is in sight... that break in the forest below is the end of the tramp... and you can see Lake Taupo in the very distance (not the lake closest... the one behind!)

Nearly there! And afterwards? Well, obviously we deserved a soak in the thermal baths on the way home! :)

Ahhhhhhhh... bliss! x x x