| After
hiking the Able Tasman Track I headed off to work on the north island
where I was hoping to do more backpacking. The only problem was that it
was winter, and I didn't have shoes to hike at Tongariro National Park,
or as some know it. Mt Doom from Lord of the Rings. The greatest one
day hike is on this mountain. There are a number of other routes you
can take, including a 3 day hike around the mountain, or a longer 5 day
hike that also goes around Ruapehu below, which is just south of
Tongariro. If you like downhill skiing there is a ski slope on Ruapehu
with a very nice large lodge. Another volcanoes on the north island is
Taranaki. Unfortunately the weather wasn't very nice. This
picture of the waterfall was the only picture worth posting. There are
a number of trails on the mountain but you won't want to wonder off the
trail. The vegetation is so thick you'd be lost 5 minutes after leaving
the trail. One person I worked with while there is involved in Search
and Rescue and he can attest to this. It was so thick I can't imagine
anyone even thinking of doing so. |
ABLE TASMAN COAST TRACK 
