What everyone does in this region – ususally – and what we first wanted to do, is the tongariro alpine crossing track. A one day hike through the Tongariro national park, about 8 hours with nothing but rocky nature in a volcanic scenic area. In order to do that, though, you’d better be well equipped and avoid days with bad weather. As we arrived at the starting point of the track in the late morning of the last sunny day forecast for the next week, we had to change plans. Around Whakapapa there are luckily many other very nice half day walking tours, including some skilifts that take you to higher grounds in minutes, such that you can walk with a beautiful view right away without the initial time consuming climb 😉

So we decided to pack our lunches, take the lift, walk further up for about one hour, enjoy the magnificent view, the surrounding, the end of the world scenery, (the lunch), and walk back down, all in half a day, in beautiful sunshine, and fresh mountain air.