Hiking Tongariro Alphine Crossing, New Zealand

Reason No.1 why you should visit New Zealand at least once in your life time just because this view is TO DIE FOR.

I am not really an outdoor person but I started to like hiking when I was in New Zealand for working holiday and on top of my to do list is definitely the Tongariro Alphine Crossing (one of the most popular track in NZ). Mt. Tongariro is still an active volcano and this is the place where they shoot Lord Of The Ring 1. Did not had much training pre-hand but I survived 22.4km of hike.

This is the place I snapped the most photos (total of 800+ photos) because I just couldn't get enough of how amazingly beautiful this place is.

We did this hike during April (Autumn) and were lucky enough the weather that day was perfect. You need to check the weather forecast prehand before you plan your hiking date because it might be dangerous to do it during bad weather.

Took us a total of 8 hours of hike to finish the 22.4km hike which was a pretty good timing because I was hiking with the Germans and they are really fit people and I have to keep catching up with them! Lol

Started our hike at around 9am.

Partners of the day, Nora and her German couple friends.

Most of the track in New Zealand are nicely paved and really safe to hike which shows how much the government put up the effort to promote hiking for their country's tourism.

First 3km. They have these poles to indicate how far have you gone.

The beginning part was pretty easy as it is flat surface.

View of Mt. Ngauruhoe

A reminder before the next harder hike up the hill.

2nd part of the hike was stairs going up hill which is pretty tough! for me at least >.<

Having a rest after first 6km of hike. Here we and Nora splits up with her couple friends who's doing the harder track which is the Ngauruhoe Summit. According to the friends the Ngauruhoe Summit track was really a hard one as compared to the Tongariro Alphine Crossing.

The dry grass looks like ball of gold under the sun.

Hello here's me and the rock ;)

Nora and I decided to do the extra hike to Tongariro Summit.

The blue lake

Amazing colours, the wonder of mother nature.

This was the scariest part for me because I HATE GOING DOWN HILL. What you need to do is basically slide down and I was half squatting half and pushing myself all the way down the hill. There's the emerald lake's colour is formed because of the minerals from the active volcano.

Have the urge to jump down but no its not safe to swim inside!

View from downhill where we just descended. My nightmare was over!

Back to a flat surface walk.

Close up of the blue lake.

Pack some food including instant noodles and apples.

The last rest area before desending the hill after 13km hike.

We saw a few elderly people doing this hike and just amazed by their stamina. There a Swiss couple who's over 80+ years old who've did the hike numerous time! OMG

The last part after descending the hill is basically walking under the shades in the jungle to reach the Ketetahi Car Park which hurts my knees so much and I kept cursing in my mind and questioning myself why did I do this to myself and when will we reach the car park.

PS: If you ask me would I do this hike again, my answer would most probably be a NO because once is enough and I was super exhausted after the whole hike but I have no regret doing this track!