Dienstag, 20. März 2012

Tongariro Alpine Crossing (NZ)

This was the most exhausting part on our tour till now!
The Tongariro Alpine Crossing is a 19.4km long walk in the Tongariro National Park. It passes over the volcanic terrain of the active volcano Mt Tongariro and passing the eastern base of Mt Ngauruhoe. Additional there is a side trip to the summit of the Mt Ngauruhoe (2287m, means add. 700m height), which was done of course by myself, and which is the reason for a extreme sore muscles, which I still have. The hike to the top was over a about 45 degree slope in a sandy bed. But on the top I became rewarded with an amazing view into the crater and over the national park. As result of my side trip I nearly had to run the last 12km without break and time to make pictures, because the pick up time at the car park on the end of the tour was fixed. Finally I finished the tour after 8 hour, 10min before the shuttle left.




Mt Ngauruhoe

tracks in the sand

hard work
reached the summit
view on the top of volcano Ngauruhoe (2287m)


crater




slope of sand bed

Mt Ngauruhoe





Emerald lakes
Emerald lakes and in the background the blue lake








Wellington (NZ)

Is known as the capital of NZ and is located in the south of the north island. We spent here two days. From here we also started our road trip to Auckland.

Parliament building







The largest ever caught octopus at Te Papa museum.




Queenstown (NZ)

... is a small village with about 8000 inhabitants on the south island of New Zealand. Is famous for its big range of extreme sport kinds.
It is compare-able with "Gmunden am Traunsee" or with "St. Wolfgang am Wolfgangsee", but of course in Austria it is more beautiful:) It depends mainly on that they have nearly no vegetation here. But see the pictures below and form your own opinion:




Ride on an jet boat up the river


View to Queenstown
 




A 5 hour hike brought us to the summit of Mt. Ben Lomond


After a 5 hour walk we've earned a beer of course:)