We came to the Tongariro National Park so that we could do the Tongariro Alpine Crossing which has been hailed as the best one day hike in the world. It is 19km (12miles) and takes about 7-8 hours.
However, our plans were changed and we had to skip this beautiful hike. Matt hurt his knee while jumping over the Moeraki Boulders and had a severe limp. Then we watched the video and I realized that I probably would have much difficulty on the descent as it is over 1,000 meters straight down and that would wreak habit on my knees.
So, what did we do with our now free day? Different hikes that did not have steep climbs.
Taranki Water Falls
About 45 minutes away from our hotel are the Taranki Water Falls. They are a whopping 20m tall and can be found in the center of the Taranki Falls loop walk which is about 6km and takes 2 hours.
The views are lovely with towering mountains and vast fields.
Volcanoes and mountains reach for the sky.
We crossed over several rivers and enjoyed many small waterfalls
Half way thru the track we finally come to the Taranki Water Fall and it is majestic!
The waterfall jets out of the mountain and lands into a beautiful small pool at the bottom.
The views are really stunning.
Whakapapa Gondola and Restaurant
Just down the road is Whakapapa (which is pronounced “fakapapa”) where the longest gondola and the highest restaurant are located. This is a ski resort in the winter so there are ski lifts, snow machines, and snow makers all over the place. In the spring, summer, and fall, it is used for mountain bikers and hikers.
We were hungry after our walk and were really looking forward to eating at the highest restaurant in NZ. However, it was closed so we were robbed of the experience.
The view is still stunning, but I can only imagine it being spectacular in the winter when it is all covered in snow.
Unfortunately, the restaurant was closed which seriously irritated me! But we did enjoy the view and they had a fabulous tiki at the top.
Next we decide to go to do the loop around Lake Rotopounamu (say that 3 times fast).
Lake Rotopounamu Loop Walk
Another 30 minutes down the road we arrive at the Lake Rotopounamu Loop walk which is 5km and about 1.45hrs. This track circles a beautiful lake surrounded by native forest and is a special favorite of tree lovers and birdwatchers. It is a relatively flat walk with less than a 150m incline and you are literally surrounded by forest and trees.
We come across three beaches along the loop and they are all beautiful and isolated.
On the way home we pass by the two volcanoes that threaten the life of the locals in Tongariro National Park.
We also find the mountain that we ascended in the gondola (see arrow).
All in all a wonderful day.
- Kilometers driven: 210
- Hotel: The Park Ruapehu
- Kilometers walked: 13.5
Events from this blog post occurred mid-March. Our blog post run 10-12 weeks behind live events. In our last blog post we had a long travel day in the car and ferry, but arrive safely at Wellington.