Taupo, North Island, New Zealand

Caught the bus back to Rotorua,where I endured the same tour for the 3rd time in the space of about a week from the same guy… I then managed to get on another bus to Taupo. I got to Taupo around 6 that evening without booking a hostel as thought it would be easy enough to find one. I went walking around trying to find one, which took me ages as I have issues with reading a map still… Anyway eventually found a few which were all fully booked. Met a guy from Czech Repbulic also trying to find somewhere to stay, tried another 2 hostels which were also fully booked, this was because of this iron man competition happening at the weekend so all these competitors around the world had taken up all the rooms and Taupo isnt exactly a huge place so was very busy with backpackers there too. Anyway we finally found a place to stay taking the last 2 beds of this hostel at Tiki Lodge. Arnie (The Czech Guy) and I booked to do the Tongariro Crossing the following day, and then went and had fish and chips by the lake. Was the weirsdest fish and chips I have ever had as it came with 2 fried eggs…

Friday 5th March

Got up at 5.30am to catch the shuttle bus to the Tongariro Crossing National Park, which is the 2nd oldest national park behind Yellowstone. We got there around 8 am and started our 19km trek, walking through volcanic rock, alongside Mount Ngaurhoe (Mount Doom) which is still an active volcano. Had a steep walk up devils staircase, hence the name.. We then walked into the south crater which was massive and looked like a dessert, with the odd helicopter landing to drop off the rich lazy people.

We then climbed up further up to the red crater ridge which was very steep and didnt really have a footpath just loose rock so I nearly fell over a few times as Im so clumsy.. We had to be very careful as we were walking on a narrow ‘footpath’ next to the crater and if you fell in you wouldnt come out. We finally got to the highest peak of the walk, and it had awesome views of the area.

We decided we’d walk up the rest of Mount Tongariro which was an extra 3km as we had enough time, again had amazing views of the emerald lakes and Mount Doom.

Then started to make our descent to the emerald lakes which were beautiful. We were skidding the whole way down the track as it was just loose rock and again I nearly fell over countless times, but was great fun. We stopped for lunch by a lake after skidding down the side of the mountain with 2 girls from slovakia and russia. Then carried on with our descent. We then began to walk in forrests with waterfalls so was a complete change of scenery which was cool. Finally got back to the shuttle at 4pm with half an hour to spare before the last bus left, and was shattered.
We got back to the hostel and for some reason we didnt think we were tired enough so decided to go for a swim in lake Taupo, which was actually really refreshing and helped the feet! We then went out for a few drinks and met some German girls, then Arnie had to leave to catch his bus to Wellington.

Sat 6th March

I had a bit of a lazy morning as was feeling slightly stiff from the previous day.. Tried to do my washing but I broke the machine as i think i put too much in so had to wring all my clothes out which took for ever and then I got blisters on my hands from it to join the ones on my feet from the walk.. I then walked into town and watched some of the iron man contest which was amaing, they had to swim 3.1km then cycle 180km and then to top it all off run a marathon and the winner did it in 9 hours!!!!!!! However poeple were still doing it until midnight! Thats about it for Taupo.

Via | TravelPod

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