Crikey!

Mt Ruapehu
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The Tongariro Crossing is billed as one of the best day walks in new Zealand, I agree!! We drove up the night before into the largest ski area in New Zealand, no snow on the ground but when we woke up in the morning the Mountain tops were covered!! The Tongariro National park is home to Mt Tongariro, Mt Ngauruhoe (Mt Doom!) and Mt Ruapehu. The walk takes between 6-8 hours and we were so proud as we did in 7 hours!!! You get dropped off by a shuttle a few K from mt Doom, you then make your way towards this amazing mountain and through Orc-land! Then its up the Devil's staircase (it really is the devil) to the top if Mt Tongariro. Pretty hard climb but you are then at the top of a volcano which is so amazing. You then pretty much slide down the other side to the Emerald Lakes to ahve lunch in amongst the rotten egg smell of sulpher!! The rest of the walk takes you back down the mountain where the nice bus man picks you up and drops you and ypur very weary legs home. Needless to say we had a very early night after all that!