27/08/2018 - First Sunburn after Winter

Despite the six-hour hike through the Tongariro National Park, we didn't sleep very well in Whakapapa. The improvised parking space on the side of the road was steeper than expected. I rolled down to Tobi several times. In addition, our heads were lower than the rest of our bodies, which made sleep quite restless. Therefore, with sunrise, the night's rest was over. We took a warm shower, had a hearty breakfast, and set off shortly after 09:00 am. We noticed that Whakapapa was much quieter. There were still some winter sports enthusiasts around, but it had little in common with yesterday's chaos. As a result, we once again found a parking space in the city center and took a last hike in the area. This led us to a viewpoint within 30 minutes, which needs no further description. So we didn't hesitate for long and marched back to the car and drove off. We made our first stop at the Tawhai Falls.

The waterfall is not famous for its spectacular height, yet some of you have probably seen it unconsciously. It was the background of a scene from "Lord of the Rings" and is therefore known as "Gollum's Pool."

But even if you haven't seen the movies, the five-minute walk is worth it. The water color glowed in a beautiful petrol color, and the rocky surroundings fit perfectly into the picture. We took the opportunity to take several long-exposure shots from various angles. We had no problem resisting the inviting pool at an outside temperature of 8°C. ;)
Next, we headed for a longer gravel road, which is also the access point to the Tongariro Alpine Crossing.

The 19km long day hike will encounter every traveler in New Zealand at some point. Whether it's the testimonials of other visitors or the hymns of praise in the travel guide. Throughout the year, you have the opportunity to get especially close to Mount Tongariro and Mount Ngauruhoe, as the hike leads between the two volcanoes.
In summer, hikers can expect a varied and spectacular volcanic landscape. In winter, on the other hand, knee-high snow. But even then, you can complete the Alpine Crossing in the form of a guided tour, equipped with ice axes and spikes.

We decided against it (unfortunately) for various reasons. Therefore, it is clear to us that if we return to New Zealand one day, the Tongariro Alpine Crossing will be at the top of our to-do list!
So we left the parking lot and drove towards "Turangi". In doing so, we passed a beautiful lookout on Lake Taupo, the largest lake on the North Island.
In the early afternoon, we reached the campsite and took out our camping chairs to enjoy the last hours of sunshine. In the process, as it should be, we got our first light sunburn after winter. With After Sun on our faces, we disappeared into bed and let the day end comfortably.