Tongariro Northern Circuit

Day One:                                                                                                                                  (Taupo—>Whakapapa Village to Waihohonu Hut)

Mount Ngauruhoe seen from the start of the Tongariro Northern Circuit, near Whakapapa Village.
Mount Ngauruhoe seen from the start of the Tongariro Northern Circuit, near Whakapapa Village.
Crossing a creek with Mount Ruapehu in the background.
Crossing a creek with Mount Ruapehu in the background.
Looking at the trail from the top of Taranaki Falls.
Looking at the trail from the top of Taranaki Falls.
Looking down at Taranaki Falls.
Looking down at Taranaki Falls.
Taranaki Falls seen from the trail.
Taranaki Falls seen from the trail.
A closer view of Mount Ruapehu.
A closer view of Mount Ruapehu.
Another view of Mount Ngauruhoe.
Another view of Mount Ngauruhoe.
A cloud sweeping past the trail with Mount Ngauruhoe behind it.
A cloud sweeping past the trail with Mount Ngauruhoe behind it.
Mount Ruapehu with Lower Tama Lake in view.
Mount Ruapehu with Lower Tama Lake in view.
Upper Tama Lake with Mount Ngauruhoe in view.
Upper Tama Lake with Mount Ngauruhoe in view.
View of Mount Ruapehu and Lower Tama Lake, seen from Upper Tama Lake.
View of Mount Ruapehu and Lower Tama Lake, seen from Upper Tama Lake.
Crossing a stream on the trail.
Crossing a stream on the trail.
The trail following alongside the stream.
The trail following alongside the stream.
A bush with small pink flowers.
A bush with small pink flowers.
Another view of Mount Ruapehu from the track.
Another view of Mount Ruapehu from the track.
Creek near Waihohonu Hut.
Creek near Waihohonu Hut.
Mount Ngauruhoe seen near sunset.
Mount Ngauruhoe seen near sunset.

 

Day Two:                                                                                                                                    (Waihohonu Hut to Mangatepopo Hut)

Mount Ngauruhoe in the morning.
Mount Ngauruhoe in the morning.
The martian-like landscape on the eastern side of Mount Ngauruhoe.
The martian-like landscape on the eastern side of Mount Ngauruhoe.
Rugged bluffs to the east of the trail.
Rugged bluffs to the east of the trail.
Looking back at the desolate landscape during the ascent toward Emerald Lakes.
Looking back at the desolate landscape during the ascent toward Emerald Lakes.
Sign warning hikers not to stop due to danger of "volcanic flying rock."
Sign warning hikers not to stop due to danger of “volcanic flying rock.”
Looking back, toward the southeast, from Emerald Lakes.
Looking back, toward the southeast, from Emerald Lakes.
One of the Emerald Lakes.
One of the Emerald Lakes.
The trail to Ketetahi Hut (not part of the Tongariro Northern Circuit) closed off due to increased volcanic activity and two volcanic eruptions that occurred in August and November of 2012.
The trail to Ketetahi Hut (not part of the Tongariro Northern Circuit) closed off due to increased volcanic activity and two volcanic eruptions that occurred in August and November of 2012.
Looking back at one of the Emerald Lakes.
Looking back at one of the Emerald Lakes.
On the shore of another Emerald Lake.
On the shore of another Emerald Lake.
View of the Emerald Lakes.
View of the Emerald Lakes.
Mount Ngauruhoe and South Crater in view.
Mount Ngauruhoe and South Crater in view.
The trail on the outer rim of South Crater.
The trail on the outer rim of South Crater.
Standing on the western edge of South Crater with Mount Ngauruhoe and Mount Ruapehu in view.
Standing on the western edge of South Crater with Mount Ngauruhoe and Mount Ruapehu in view.
Another view of Mount Ngauruhoe, seen from the northern end of South Crater.
Another view of Mount Ngauruhoe, seen from the northern end of South Crater.
Looking at Mount Ngauruhoe and thinking, "Who needs Rekall? This is what blue skies on Mars would look like."
Looking at Mount Ngauruhoe and thinking, “Who needs Rekall? This is what blue skies on Mars would look like.”
Looking north from Mount Tongariro.
Looking north from Mount Tongariro.
Mount Ngauruhoe seen from the bottom of South Crater.
Mount Ngauruhoe seen from the bottom of South Crater.
Water falling from Soda Springs.
Water falling from Soda Springs.
Yet another view of Mount Ngauruhoe.
Yet another view of Mount Ngauruhoe.
The sun setting on the trail (near Mangatepopo Hut).
The sun setting on the trail (near Mangatepopo Hut).

 

Day Three:                                                                                                                            (Mangatepopo Hut to Whakapapa Village—>Taupo)

Hiking back toward Mount Ngauruhoe (I left my backpack at Mangatepopo Hut so that I could hike to the top of Mount Ngauruhoe before then returning and finishing the trail).
Hiking back toward Mount Ngauruhoe (I left my backpack at Mangatepopo Hut so that I could hike to the top of Mount Ngauruhoe before then returning and finishing the trail).
Approaching Mount Ngauruhoe.
Approaching Mount Ngauruhoe.
Looking at South Crater from Mount Ngauruhoe.
Looking at South Crater from Mount Ngauruhoe.
At the top of Mount Ngauruhoe with the crater and Mount Ruapehu visible.
At the top of Mount Ngauruhoe with the crater and Mount Ruapehu visible.
Looking down at South Crater from the top of Mount Ngauruhoe (notice the trail cutting right through the crater), with Blue Lake visible in the distance.
Looking down at South Crater from the top of Mount Ngauruhoe (notice the trail cutting right through the crater), with Blue Lake visible in the distance.
Hiking back to Mangatepopo Hut.
Hiking back to Mangatepopo Hut.
Mount Pukekalklore with the edge of Mount Ngauruhoe barely visible on the left (nearing Mangatepopo Hut).
Mount Pukekalklore with the edge of Mount Ngauruhoe barely visible on the left (nearing Mangatepopo Hut).
Back on the trail proper (reunited with my backpack), looking at Mount Ruapehu whilst hiking toward Whakapapa Village (the end of the track).
Back on the trail proper (reunited with my backpack), looking at Mount Ruapehu whilst hiking toward Whakapapa Village (the end of the track).
One last view of Mount Ngauruhoe, seen near the end of the Tongariro Northern Circuit (near Whakapapa Village).
One last view of Mount Ngauruhoe, seen near the end of the Tongariro Northern Circuit (near Whakapapa Village).

An open journal or an exercise in narcissism.