Tongariro Stories


Next to Mt Doom

Of course it had to be the day we were hiking the Tongariro Alpine Crossing for a severe weather advisory warning. Most guided tours were cancelled as well as field trips of children were turning around after a couple kilometers. We looked at each other and put on a couple more layers as we talked ourselves into hiking it – there was no other option. Ou...


Into Mordor

In Roturua we found that when thermal features are on private land they cost too much money. So we stopped to smell the sulfur then pressed on towards Lake Taupo, fulling intending on finally putting the tent to use. However the Nissan Sunny had other plans. Once a safe distance from any real town the gas gauge decided to make the jump from quarter to e...


Emeralds in the mist

The train journey from Auckland down to National Park passed pleasantly, mainly due to the cream teas served onboard and it wasn't too long before we were met by the open arms of... no one! Despite arranging a transfer to the backpackers, the station was deader than a dead thing and tumbleweeds cartwheeling throught the empty station wouldn't have looke...