The next stop on our trip involved two nights in Taupo in order for us to hike the 6-8 hour Tongariro Alpine Crossing which is the most popular one-day hike in New Zealand. On the way to Taupo we stopped at the gorgeous turquoise colored Huka falls. Three hundred tons of water per second plunge into eddies and whirlpools. Lake Taupo is New Zeeland’s largest lake. We were not actually able to go out on the lake due to it raining again. It has rained every day since we arrived and we are finally putting our rain clothing to use after 1 day of rain in 4 months while in South America.
Huka Falls.
Lake Taupo.
Being the eager beaver that I am as soon as we arrived in Taupo I headed straight to Spa Thermal Park and Hot Stream while Jon stayed back at the hotel. It was an amazing small hot creek hat cascaded through a series of wonderful hot pools and then mixed with the cool water of the Waikato River. There are tons of neat places like this and hot water beach all over New Zealand due to the volcanic activities deep under the ground. Unfortunately, on my hour walk back home I got caught in a downpour. Damn, I wish I had bought rain pants.
Spa Thermal Park and Hot Stream Spa Thermal Park and Hot Stream.
We were picked up bright and early the next morning at 6 am to drive the hour to the start of the Tongariro Alpine Crossing. We were lucky to be able to go on the hike as the day before it had poured and the day after the hike was set to be closed due to impending bad weather. For now, the rain was holding off. The 7-hour hike passed through diverse terrain climbing over lava flows, crossing a crater floor covered in snow, skirting active geothermal areas and passing emerald blue lakes. All this with Mt Doom looming in the background. The hike and the day were outstanding but of course, Jon who had just recovered from his hurt back, did something to his leg or pinched a nerve and was basically out of commission for the next week. I think his body is in shock and it is rebelling. Keeping with the rest of the trip so far the last hour of the hike it poured but we were grateful it was not the entire time.
Jon at the start of the trail.
Various landscapes of the hike.
The next day we were all sore but sill up for the Taranaki Falls walk which headed through bushland to where the Wairere Steam plunged 20 meters over the end of an old lava flow. I was even able to walk behind the waterfall. This time it did not rain, it hailed. Big fat hails that stung your face and hands as it hit them.
Me behind the waterfall and a view from above of the trail.
Where we stayed nights 4 and 5, Base Taupo, a chain brand of dorm rooms with the smallest dorms campground with brand new dorm cabins for the Kiwi I have ever seen. We shared a microscopic 4-bed dorm for about $22 a night each ($44 total).
Journey with Christina 