Day 46 - Tongariro

I woke up to find Kate and Fraser and a couple of other walkers had also came to camp in the night. They similarly did the canoe trip before the crossing and had just hitched from Whanganui and hiked the 25km in a single day. They didn’t arrive until 11 last night. Mad. 

For now I was the first to leave onto the 42nd traverse, a mostly 4x4 track that brought us to the beginning of the Tongariro crossing, some 37km over hilly terrain. 

Technically part of this track is closed due to a slip. DOC and Te Araroa don’t want people to go through it. But word has spread that the slip is passable whatever the authorities say, so now most walkers are doing it anyway. I get why it’s closed, but it was very easy to navigate. 

11am photo on the other side of the slip. 

The track turned into a stream at one point and then to a full on river crossing. Time to put on the trusty ole crocs. 

I met a group of ATV’ers who were having great trouble in the steep muddy tracks. Their dirt bike broke down and their quad was not getting anywhere. Looked dire. I wished them good luck and pushed on with my trusty legs. 

Out of the 42nd traverse I got a closer view of Tongariro National Park, tommorows objective. Mt. Ruapheu and Mt. Doom shrouded in clouds. 

Camp was not much further, a holiday park. The owner gave us some home brewed ale for New Year’s Eve, delicious. Off to bed without a care for 2023, up early for the crossing tomorrow!