lundi 14 mai 2007
The Tongariro Crossing
Par Gunther Dursteler, lundi 14 mai 2007 à 08:00 :: New Zealand
The Tongariro Crossing, New Zealand's most popular one-day-hike. Much longer than Mt Ruapehu's climb (17km against 8km) but much easier as well.
A view over Mt Ngauruhoe
Starting our hike !
Beautiful views of lava rocks !
Starting to climb, this is the most and only difficult part of the hike. Nothing compared to Mt Ruapehu :O)
There we are ! As of now, it's going to be pretty flat !
Enjoying the great view ! :O)
Even if this doesn't look like one, we are walking on a huge crater !
Mt Ngauruhoe in the background...a volcano like we've always imagined it...
A view from the crater we are walking on...
...and one more just because it looks impressive :O)
Now for the Lord of The Rings fans... THIS is Mordor !!
And Mt Ngauruhoe was used as Mt Doom in the movie !!
Baby and I in front of the amazing Red Crater. Thanks Stewart for taking the pic' :O)
The Red Crater's vent is the result of an eruption about 150 years ago...beautiful !
The Blue Lake in the distance...
...and the amazing three Emerald Lakes !
The Three of them are still active !
Interersting colours resulting of sulfurs activity
After a well deserved lunch we are starting our descent by walking on another large active crater...
All of this makes us feel like we are literally walking on the moon...
A water stream with Mt Ngauruhoe's beautiful crater in the distance
"The other side", the beginning of the end of the hike (even if we are only half way :O)
Can't help but taking pictures of this amazing crater !! :O)
Baby ready to get down !
This is our last break before arriving...still about 2hours
One more picture and let's go !
Well almost, let me take another picture of Baby in action ! :O)
Beautiful colors which will always remind us of New Zealand !
Really love them :O)
A hot spring owned by the Maori community
We are definitely back on earth :O)
We made it !! 17kms in 8h30 hours and lots of unforgettable landscapes of this amazing place !!