hello, nz!
our 3-ish weeks in new zealand started on the north island where we flew into auckland and tried to pack in as much as we could before heading south. we started with the popular hike – the tongariro alpine crossing – and ended up going on one of the windiest days that year [120mph!]. i truly felt like i might blow off the side of the mountain and thus not many photos were taken that day.
the trail runs through an active volcanic region in the midst of tongariro national park, a 7-8 hour hike through dramatic volcanic scenery, offering epic vistas all the way to mt taranaki on a clear day.
some quick tips/things to know:
- you will likely sleep in the town of taupo, nz on the nights before/after the hike
- it will take most of the day - the tongariro alpine crossing is ~12 miles long, on average the trek takes between six and eight hours to complete, so definitely pack a lunch + snacks + plenty of water
- park your car at the end, and book a s huttle to the trailhead [then when you're done, your car is waiting for you :)]
- check out this site for all the info you need to know
Y O U M I G H T A L S O L I K E:
