The Tongariro Alpine Crossing | 27-29 December

On the 26th we drove to National Park Village to do the famous Tongariro Alpine Crossing on the 27th. This one-day tour is the most famous one-day hike in New Zealand and is located in Tongariro National Park, surrounded by active volcanoes. In the New Zealand winter, this tour can only be done with a guide, and in the summer, anyone can do it on their own, but it is advised to check the weather beforehand, as it can snow and hail even in the summer at an altitude of almost 1900 meters.

We left at 7 am by bus and started walking at 7:45. The first hour seemed quite harmless as it was a straight path. Then came the first part of the ascent, and it was incredibly foggy and cold, so I was truly grateful for the beanie and scarf. But then the sun suddenly came out and it stayed that way for the whole day ☀️ After 7 1/2 hours, we made it and we were very exhausted but also accomplished. It was a successful day, as the effort is worth it for the beautiful views of the other volcanoes, mountains, landscapes, and especially the Emerald Lakes.

Yesterday we drove to Turangi to try white water rafting on the Tongariro River today. At first, we were a little uncertain because of the initially bad weather, but it quickly became a lot of fun on the boat, and after jumping off a cliff and getting completely wet, every additional drop wasn't a big deal anymore. The sun even came out to say hello and in the end, we even had hot dogs for everyone 🌭

Wishing you all a Happy New Year 2017 in advance!