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National Park on 9-11 November 2010
(Tongariro Crossing on 10th)
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National Park Village borders the World Heritage Tongariro
National Park to the east and the Whanganui National Park, to the West.
Tongariro was the fourth national park established in the world. National
Park Village is located near the base of Mt Ruapehu, on the volcanic plateau.
The village has great views of Mt Tongariro, Mt Ngauruhoe (Mt Doom in the
Lord of the Rings movie) and Mt Ruapehu.
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The Overlander train from Auckland to National Park took about
six hours and the journey offered breathtaking views. As it was at the beginning
of the tourist season I was almost alone getting off at National Park, which
the highest urban township in New Zealand at 825 metres.
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Somehow strange, but nice to find flowering lilacbushes here
and there in the village as well as singing Dunnocks, Chaffinchs, Blackbids
and Starlings. The latter had newly hatched nestlings.
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My accommodation at National Park Backpackers...
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....which faced an awesome scenary like Mount Ruapehu.
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On my first day (the whole evening of 9th) I had a long walk
through the old forest on Fishermans Track. Here I saw my first NZ passerines
such as Tui, Fantail, Whitehead, Grey Warbler, Bellbird and Tomtit.
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Lovely forest!
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Walking through the old forest were refreshing for your
mind!
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The narrow gravel tracks were all well done and easy
to walk.
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Amazing view from Tupapakurua Falls.
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Sunrise at Tongariro on 10th. Clear blus sky and a perfect
day for the Tongariro Alpine Crossing. Lucky me as it was the only day I
had for it.
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The walk takes about 7-8 hours in moderate speed.
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Reading carefully what to do if...
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Mount Ruapehu (2,797 metres above sea level).
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Mount Ngauruhoe. Lot of small streams here and there.
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View towards west and Mount Taranaki in far background, which
is an active but quiescent stratovolcano on the west coast. The 2518 metre
high mountain is one of the most symmetrical volcanic cones in the world.
The Maori word tara means mountain peak.
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New Zeakand Pipit, were the only species to be seen during
the crossing.
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As a matter of fact Mount Ngauruhoe was used as a stand-in
for the fictional Mount Doom in The Lord of the Rings movie trilogy. And
everyone knows that Sauron has left the building, the ring was destroyed,
Mount Doom is asleep and no orch has been seen ever since. So, I felt pretty
safe while enjoying a coffee break.
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View of Mount Ngauruhoe (2,291 metres above sea level) ) from
Mount Tongariro (1,967 metres).
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Trekkers on the Mount Tongariro ridge.
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A quite difficult walk downwards to the Emerald Lakes (Blue
Lake in background).
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The Emerald Lakes. The brilliant green colour of the water
in these lakes, caused by minerals leached from the surrounding rock.
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The track sidles around the edge of Central Crater through
snow and then climbs up to Blue Lake.
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The Blue Lake. The Maori name translates as Rangihiroa’s
mirro. Rangihiroa, the son of the local chief, was said to have explored
the Tongariro volcanoes in the middle of the 18th centrury. The lake is
tapu (sacred) and it is disrespectful to eat or drink around its shores.
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View towards Lake Rotoaira to Lake Taupo.
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Keteahi Springs.
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Lovely forest along the Mangatetipua stream of the last kilometres.
In the woodland I noted lot of Tuis, Grey Warblers, Bellbirds and Tomtits.
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Mount Ngauruhoe in the evening of 10th, sviewed from the National
Park village.
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A last latte in the restaurant garden of the train station,
before heading to Wellington on 11th November.
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