Wednesday the 3rd February 2010

We were very lucky this morning as we nearly missed the bus destination Taupo by 2 minutes but luckily the driver saw us running down the road so he waited for us, you would have thought we would have learnt our lesson from last time but we still went out the night before we needed to catch a bus early but good old Dad rang us to wake us up this time - Thanks Dad you're a star!!!

Once we got on the bus we had a bit of a snooze before stopping for breakfast. After breakfast we got back on the bus and along the way we stopped off at a few scenic spots to take some photos before driving onto Taupo. We arrived at the hostel Urban Retreat at around 2pm before we went to the hostel we had stopped at the skydiving office and booked our second sky dive of the trip we had also booked for Kate a girl we had met in Queenstown who was coming to Taupo tomorrow so we had decided to all do it together.

Once we had checked in we had a bit of a chilled afternoon reading before having a walk around the town and by the lake. We had to cut our walk short as we had to get back to the hostel for the chilli meal deal we had signed up for on check in. After we had eaten we went back to the lake to watch sunset which unfortunately was a bit cloudy but it was still very pretty. After sunset we went back to the hostel and had a few drinks before getting an early night.

Thursday 4th February 2010

This morning we had lay in and then a chilled morning before getting ready for our skydive the bus picked us up 1.30pm and then took us all to the airfield. There were 6 of us jumping and we decided to do 15,000ft jump as we had only done 14,000ft in Australia. Once we arrived at the office we watched some sample DVD'S so we could decide if we wanted them or not Suz and I decided to just do the jump as we had the DVD's from last time had done it. Watching the DVD's is not what Kate needed really as it was her first time skydiving and these made her even more nervous than she already was.

Once we had watched the DVD's we went through to meet the instructors and get our equipment on before getting on the plane. This plane was a lot bigger than the one in Australia but it was still very cramped once you got 12 people in there plus a pilot. I was a bit disappointed as the company we were jumping with have got a pink plane but they weren't using it that afternoon gutted. As we were jumping from 15,000ft it was an oxygen assisted jump so half way up we were all given oxygen to help us with the altitude. The plane ride was amazing the views were stunning, but even though we had done a jump before we were both really nervous!! The worst bit again like last time was when they opened the door and the wind was blowing and it's so noisy. I was last to jump this time which I think was worst than going first, watching ten people jump out of a plane before it's your turn. It was amazing and we both loved it again the views I think were better than the last jump but I'm not sure we got the same buzz as last time.

Once we had landed and had our pictures taken we had a bit of a wait before we could get the bus back to town as we had to wait for the others to watch there DVD's before we could get back. Once back in town we got dropped off at the supermarket so we could get supplies for tomorrow ready for our big walk.

Tonight we had Beef satay for tea before going to the lake to watch sunset again with Kate enjoyed with a couple of bottles of wine. After sunset we went to a bar for a couple of drinks before getting an early night as we had a very early start in the morning.

Friday 5th February 2010

Very early start this morning we were pick up by the Tongariro Alpine crossing shuttle at 6.20am . It took around an hour and half to get to the start of the walk and we met Kate there as she had got a different shuttle bus. Just to give you a little bit of information about the walk:

The Tongariro Alpine Crossing in Tongariro National Parkis one ofNew Zealand's most spectacular ,tramping tracks (This is what the kiwi's call hiking) and is considered the most popular one-day tramp in New Zealand. The Tongariro National Park is a World Heritage site which has the distinction of dual status, as it has been acknowledged for both its natural and cultural significance.

The crossing passes over the volcanic terrain of the multi-cratered active volcano Mt Tongariro, passing the eastern base of Mt Ngauruhoe which can optionally be climbed as a side trip.

The 19.4 km walk is renowned for its barren yet beautiful moon like volcanic landscape, unusual geological features, visible volcanic activity and views of the surrounding countryside below.

The bus dropped us off at the trailhead near Pukeonake hut (on the western side of the map) at an altitude of about 1100 meters. This altitude was already sufficiently high to be above the tree line. From here, we could look south to see the snowy slopes of
Mount Ruapehu (altitude 2797 m, an active volcano — last major eruptions were in 1995 and 1996, but there have been plenty of rumbles since then). The imposing cone of Mount Ngauruhoe (altitude 2291 m) loomed directly before us…

Mount Ngauruhoe

If this mountain looks familiar to you, it's because the same mountain was used to model Mount Doom in Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings movies.

From the start, we walked and climbed gradually up to Soda Springs, past Mangatepopo Hut (potty break!) and up the very steep Devil's Staircase very hard work we had to take several stops while walking up these . At the top of the staircase (not a real staircase; it's just a name), we had reached an altitude of almost 1700 meters and could see far into the distance. I think we were able to see all the way across to the Tasman Sea from here.

We continued across the flat and barren South Crater past the base of the imposing Mount Ngauruhoe. On the other side of the crater, we ascended Red Crater Ridge to reach the highest point on the trail (1886 metres). The wind was vicious here, but the views were outstanding from here we could see the Emerald lakes which where amazing the colours where spectacular .

Red Crater Ridge and South Crater

From Red Crater Ridge, it was almost all downhill (with some minor undulations). There was a steep scree going down from the top of the ridge. A scree is a slope composed of a thick layer of loose rocks. They're tricky to navigate since the ground comes loose with every step and threatens to send you tumbling down hill.

After more walking, we crossed the crater and started the long descent down the north faces of Mount Tongariro. We eventually reached Ketetahi Hut, perched on the mountain slopes, still far above the tree-line. Although it was a tiny place, there was space for 24 people to sleep, cook, sit, be sheltered from the elements, get water, and use the toilets. There was no road to get here. You had to either walk or fly in a helicopter. Although the majority of the people who walked past this place were day trekkers like us, the hut was built to accommodate people on overnight treks (like the four-day Tongariro Northern Crossing).

The rest of the way down was easy and fast. We walked past some steaming sulfurous hot springs and into a moist forest. These trees, only at the end of the trek, were the first shade we were able to enjoy all day. We made the scheduled 3:30 PM bus that we were aiming for so all in all we had walked the 19.4km in 7 hours we were all impressed with that as we had had numerous breaks as well It was an exhausting day, but very well worth it.

Tonight after we had had a shower and a rest Suzie, Kate, Caroline (Another girl we had met previously who had arrived in Taupo that day) and myself all went for dinner and drinks which as you might have guessed turned into a late one but think we deserved it after walking 19.4km!!!

Saturday 6th February 2010

The morning was cancelled out this morning, this afternoon we spent by the lake topping up our tans and reading and we even had a swim the water was very cold but it was actually really refreshing as it was so hot today.

Tonight we had a relaxed evening with the chilli meal deal at the hostel before getting an early night ready to leave early in the morning.