Tongariro Alpine Crossing

Thursday Feb 17th 18.5 km 6.5 hrs

A clear morning, so no better day than today for a walk through this very distinctive volcanic area. From the Ketetahi Rd carpark at 760m it was a steady climb upwards, first through bush, then on open ridges, past the Ketetahi Hut and onto the Blue Lake at around 1760m. On past the startling green Emerald lakes then up to the top (1860m) of the dramatic Red Crater, with the whiff of sulphur at times.

Close up views of Mt Ngaruhoe to discourage any thoughts of a quick sprint up to the top, before heading down across the South Crater, then down on a good track winding through a major area of blackened volcanic rocks. A comforting sign showing all the areas the track goes through that have been impacted by volcanic activity over the last 100 years. So then down along the Mangatepopo Valley beside the little stream that is so different from the rushing forest end of that stream that I crossed the day before in the Tongariro Forest, what seems like a whole world away. Then on to the Managatepopo carpark.

By going North to South, Te Araroa is going against the standard way to do the Crossing – while a few hundred were doing South to North, I appeared to be the only person going the other way – so while it was busy from Blue Lake through to the start of the South Crater as I passed the main group of the day , for the rest of the day I met very few people. No reason to not do it North to South if you have the transport organised