Tongariro National Park

Crazy weekend!! Another road trip, this time down south to Tongariro where we hiked the Alpine Crossing. The crossing totals 19.4 km which ended up being about 14 miles from start to finish! A large tourist destination but now I know why. Some of the best views I’ve ever seen!! Mt. Ngauruhoe or as many know it as ‘Mount Doom’ from Lord of the Rings is the volcano pictured and is an active stratovolcano or composite cone in New Zealand. It is the youngest vent in the Tongariro volcanic complex on the Central Plateau of the North Island. Our group consisted of 16 people and we all made it back in one piece (in only 8 hours)! The longest and most rewarding hike I’ve ever completed. So worth the 6 hour car ride and 5 am wake up!!