Tongariro Crossing
After 6 hours spent on the bus from Auckland to National Park, with the driver not stopping at National Park because he didn't know where it was, leading to the bus driving for 30 minutes in the wrong direction, changing driver and then heading back, until we finally arrived.
The hostel we are staying at is a well run, cozy little place, in the shadow of two big volcanic mountains. One, Nt Ruapehu, apparently is a great place to go skiing in the winter, and the other, Mt Ngauruhoe, was Mt Doom in the LotR - movies. There is also a third mountain, not visible from here which is called Mt Tongariro.
The sole reason, at least that we could see, for going to National Park (which is a town), is to do the so called Tongariro Crossing, which is a hike that takes you from the base of the mountians and then up between Mt Ngauruhoe and Mt Tongariro, and then back down again on the other side.
Before heading out on the hike, we had been advised against heading out in jeans, and instead buy or rent waterproof and warm pants from a place nearby... yet we really didn't see any need for it, and there really wasn't. We actually saw some people climb in shorts and T-shirts.
First part of the trip was basically a long, gruesome, climb up to the highest point of the hike (approx 2000 meters) that took 3 hours, through a volcanic landscape with old lava flows and volcano vents. From the highest point of the hike, you were overlooking three turcoise lakes below, called the Emerald lakes. The smell of sulphur only got stronger as you headed down towards them.
Today we are heading for an overnight stay in Wellington, and will be heading out on the Interislander ferry early tomorrow morning, which will take us from the North Island (Wellington) to the South Island (Picton), where we'll board a bus that will take us to Nelson. The odds that both of us will get on the bus and fall asleep instantly are not to great... I wouldn't bet against it.
Oh, and Hobbit sightings so far are still zero... not even as road kill :(
The hostel we are staying at is a well run, cozy little place, in the shadow of two big volcanic mountains. One, Nt Ruapehu, apparently is a great place to go skiing in the winter, and the other, Mt Ngauruhoe, was Mt Doom in the LotR - movies. There is also a third mountain, not visible from here which is called Mt Tongariro.
Sophie in front of Mt Ngauruhoe (Mt. Doom)
The sole reason, at least that we could see, for going to National Park (which is a town), is to do the so called Tongariro Crossing, which is a hike that takes you from the base of the mountians and then up between Mt Ngauruhoe and Mt Tongariro, and then back down again on the other side.
On the way up the mountain
So, early yesterday morning, we loaded our backpack with the very, very, essential and in many ways lifesaving, G.O.R.P. (Good Old Raisins and Peanuts, with some Smarties added), a lot of water and headed out. The weather as we started was great, with virtually no clouds, but as we got up higher it got colder, the wind got stronger, and visibility became occassionally very poor.
Poor visibility on the ridge leading to the highest point of the hike
Before heading out on the hike, we had been advised against heading out in jeans, and instead buy or rent waterproof and warm pants from a place nearby... yet we really didn't see any need for it, and there really wasn't. We actually saw some people climb in shorts and T-shirts.
First part of the trip was basically a long, gruesome, climb up to the highest point of the hike (approx 2000 meters) that took 3 hours, through a volcanic landscape with old lava flows and volcano vents. From the highest point of the hike, you were overlooking three turcoise lakes below, called the Emerald lakes. The smell of sulphur only got stronger as you headed down towards them.
Emerald lakes
In front of one of the Emerald lakes
From this point on, the hike was basically only downhill for 2.5 hours, and the last one and a half hour was downhill through a regular landscape without that much to look at which made it seem a lot longer.
We had originally 8 or 9 hours to complete the hike before the first and the second pickup truck would arrive at the end of the hike and drive us back. However, we only needed five and a half hours approximately to get us from start to finish, which meant we had to wait for the pickup to arrive, giving us some well needed rest.Today we are heading for an overnight stay in Wellington, and will be heading out on the Interislander ferry early tomorrow morning, which will take us from the North Island (Wellington) to the South Island (Picton), where we'll board a bus that will take us to Nelson. The odds that both of us will get on the bus and fall asleep instantly are not to great... I wouldn't bet against it.
Oh, and Hobbit sightings so far are still zero... not even as road kill :(
Labels: New Zealand
posted by Joakim at 1:18 PM
4 Comments:
It is true that the theory of our Constitution is, that all taxes are paid
voluntarily; that our government is a mutual insurance company,
voluntarily entered into by the people with each other…
But this theory of our government is wholly different from the
practical fact. The fact is that the government, like a highwayman, say
to a man: “Your money, or your life.” And many, if not most, taxes are
paid under the compulsion of that threat.
The government does not, indeed, waylay a man in a lonely place,
spring upon him from the roadside, and holding a pistol to his head,
proceed to rifle his pockets. But the robbery is none the less a robbery
on that account; and it is far more dastardly and shameful.
The highwayman takes solely upon himself the responsibility,
danger, and crime of his own act. He does not pretend that he has any
rightful claim to your money, or that he intends to use it for your own
benefit. He does not pretend to be anything but a robber. He has not
acquired impudence enough to profess to be merely a “protector,” and
that he takes men’s money against their will, merely to enable him to
“protect” those infatuated travellers, who feel perfectly able to protect
themselves, or do not appreciate his peculiar system of protection. He is
too sensible a man to make such professions as these. Furthermore,
having taken your money, he leaves you, as you wish him to do. He
does not persist in following you on the road, against your will;
assuming to be your rightful “sovereign,” on account of the
“protection” he affords you. He does not keep “protecting” you, by
commanding you to bow down and serve him; by requiring you to do
this, and forbidding you to do that; by robbing you of more money as
often as he finds it for his interest or pleasure to do so; and by branding
you as a rebel, a traitor, and an enemy to your country, and shooting
you down without mercy, if you dispute his authority, or resist his
demands. He is too much of a gentleman to be guilty of such
impostures, and insults, and villainies as these. In short, he does not, in
addition to robbing you, attempt to make you either his dupe or his
slave.
Svavel luktar gott
Ruttna agg och prutt ar en valdoft man onskar de salde pa NK
Hi guys, great to read you diary from NZ/AU (although half-a-year later than I should have!). Nice photos, have to get to Mt.Doom...damn... I really wanted to throw the ring in the fire...oh there was no fire...no gollum...no Mt Doom...you mean it's all digital in the movie..NOOOOOOOO!
Take care guys, it was great having beers with you over new years...let's hook up during the summer...I'm on vacation at home like *right now*...
Cya/Erik
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