Backpacking

New Zealand – Hiking the Tongariro Crossing

The Tongariro Crossing is one of Newzealand’s finest hiking tracks. You can do it as a 7-8hours hike in one day, but we decided to overnight in a little DOC hut and spend two days hiking. The hike starts gently, climbs to the saddle between the active volcanoes of Mt.Tongariro and Mt.Ngauruhoe and passes by several volcanic craters and crater lakes. The scenery has been used to film Lord of the Rings famous land Mordor and Mt.Ngauruhoe has actually been the Mount Doom where Frodo has finally destroyed the evil Ring.

The small shape on the mountain that’s me, Mount Doom is in the background (see pic above). On the highest part of the Tongariro Crossing we grabbed our camping cooker and had some spicy noodles – with an awesome view!