Tongariro National Park

'The early bird catches the worm,' we thought and set off at 6:45 for the Tongariro Alpine Crossing. Arriving at the foot of the mountain range, the imposing Mount Ngauruhoe, also known as Mount Doom from Lord of the Rings, made a strong impression on us. However, Mount Tongariro, which gives the area its name, was equally impressive. At the beginning of the ascent, we encountered a barren landscape that was completely different from the surrounding area and signaled the start of the volcano's surroundings. Black lava soil and reddish streams accompanied us on the way to the plateau between the mountains, which we reached at sunrise. From here, the ascent of Mount Doom began with a steep wall. It started pretty slippery, with pebbles everywhere. It's no wonder that the guides who took us to the mountain said that here, one takes two steps forward and one step back before eventually reaching the top. So, we looked for more solid ground for a faster ascent. Upon reaching the summit/crater, we were greeted with a breathtaking view. The perfect weather allowed us to see all the way to the coast and to Mount Taranaki, which is still on our to-do list. The descent was more like a slide, as it was not possible to walk backwards down the steep mountainside, so we followed the others and slid down the mountain in fine gravel sand. Kevin even tried skiing on gravel soil and despite the fun, he was very glad to have arrived safely at the bottom. Kevin continued with the ascent to Mount Tongariro. The remaining part of the Tongariro Alpine Crossing passed by red rocks and turquoise lakes. The beautiful descent with a panoramic view of surrounding lakes in a steppe landscape was equally spectacular. After the successful day, we treated ourselves to a reward: KitKat Dark Chocolate Special Edition! So delicious.

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