New Zealand: Day 6 - Tongariro Northern Crossing, Mt. Ruahpahn
Posted Sun 4 Mar 2007 by Brad under New Zealand Trip
5/13/03 (written 10 am 5/14) DAY 6 - Tongariro Northern Crossing, Mt. Ruahpahn
Hmm – what happened yesterday? Kathleen and I woke up @ 7:00 in hut, Ryan already up. Packed up all our stuff, boiled water, said goodbye to Florian (the German) and Dutch peoples and were on our way.
Left around 8:30 and hiked till 11. Lots of colorful plants and mazelike walks. Ryan’s knee was bothering him and there was lots of uphill so that caused some problems. Walked near Mt.Ruahpahn for a while.
Very warm, walked in t-shirts. Came to lake for a while, stopped for lunch (no more cheese, please) and got very cold again. Put fleece back on and I led the way the rest of the day. Crossed a few streams, nothing too exciting, but enjoyable.
Quite ready to go back home (camper van).
Saw hut from 2 hours away and marched down. Stopped at a waterfall which was pretty cool, then to Visitor’s center. Some daypackers called up ‘hardcore.’
FINALLY found the Whakapapa visitor’s center. Great feeling.
At visitor’s center got nachos and wrote some postcards. Ran into Meredith (who gave me two hugs) and tried to call home several times but somebody on the Internet.
Our German friend Florian and some old, smelly lady was on our bus. Then we had to switch buses and the one we got on was packed and it was embarrassing because of our huge ass packs. Sat next to a red-headed German girl playing games on her cell phone.
Finally, got back to day park, took showers and went to Brewhaus. Got a rump steak with eggs and fries for dinner from out waitress Renee. Salad bar was strange and ketchup was gross, but overall good. Pavlova for dessert (meringue with kiwi, grapes, and cherries) was good, but should have just gotten ice cream. Also had two pale beers brewed on the premises which were VERY good.
Went to the bar area and loaded Juke Box with Break on Through, In My Place, and 1979. Ended up playing pool, air hockey, and watched cricket with Florian was ended up walked in out from nowhere. He tried to us the rules of cricket, but I wasn’t really too interested. Ryan was.
Finally, called Dad collect.
Highpoint: Seeing visitor center and dinner.
Lowpoint: Drinking a lot but not getting drunk because I ate too much.
Random Thought: Why would anybody want to play cricket?
Technorati Tags: Tongariro, Ruahpahn, Whakapapa
