A summer trip to Mt Ruapehu is a favourite of all of ours, so quite a few of us headed up for the family tramping trip in March. It ended up that we had three trips in one, with all of us doing different things at different times. Here are three perspectives on this trip.
Angela’s story…
We’ve been to Ruapehu in the face of weather bombs and blizzards, so it was a great surprise to see great weather as I drove up with Yingjie. My h usband, Mike, and I had been frantically packing late on Thursday night and were driving up separately in two cars.
Mike appeared an hour or so af ter me, and the first thing he discovered was that he had forgotten to bring his tramping boots! I had even left them out in the middle of the porch so he had to step over them to get in and out of the house. Silly Mike.
Saturday morning dawned clear and crisp. Myself, Toby, Yingjie, Alex and Tommy were hitting the Tongariro Crossing, and Mike was performing car shuttle duties. 9:30am saw us walking up Mangatepopo valley in clear skies and crisp conditions. The boys were complaining a bit during the ascent, but after we reached the first crater, everything changed. The terrain became fascinating to them. Alex and Toby had a hard time keeping to the path as they rock-climbed and explored their way over the crossing. We are lunch in the south crater and then headed up another steep section. Once as the top, Toby and Alex were amazed at the view into the other big crater. Steam was coming out in places and the colours (and smell) were amazing. After that, the boys scampered down the scree slope, past other crossers timidly picking their way down, to the brilliant emerald and blue lakes. They both explored the lake shore, fascinated by the colour of the water.
We started on the long downhill section and that is when my legs started to feel it. It was great to see Mike walking in to meet us with some cold drinks, to the envy of other crossers slogging the last part of the trip.
We all drove back to the lodge, kicked off dinner and burnt the chips completely. Oh dear. But everyone was full anyway. We ate burgers and enjoyed relaxing.
Sunday morning was another lovely morning. Mike and Tommy prepared to climb to the summit of Mt Ruapehu and we all tidied up the lodge in preparation to leave. I carefully prepared my day pack, with my lunch, change of clothes and car keys.
When I set off for the day I discovered that Mike had packed my day pack into my car, locked it up, and headed up the mountain! What was he thinking. By the time I got hold of him he was well up the mountain. So our days plans were thrown into disarray and we sat around in the clean lodge waiting for Mike and Tommy’s return. I sat around and read Robinson Crusoe until I fell asleep in the sun for a little while. Toby and Alex played outside, scrambling over rocks around the lodge.
Mike and Tommy eventually got back from their climb at 2.15pm and we all set off. We met up at Levin for McDonalds (yuck!) and we were home by 7pm.
As I sit here now, my big toe’s toenails are very tender and I hope I don’t lose them. My body is also a little sore. But the fun of watching Toby and Alex’s amazement at the colours and shapes of the Tongariro landscape, and all the other excitement of the weekend, means it’s a good pain!
Mike’s story…
We were the last to arrive after a pleasant drive up, and folks descended on our car and helped us up with all our stuff. This is when I discovered that Angela hadn’t packed my tramping boots! She had assembled everything except for them into the pile in the lounge. Oh well – it couldn’t be helped. I suggested she be more careful in future.
So when the Saturday dawned, my first job was to head to Ohakune and pick up some cheap boots. I then had the day to explore, before my pick-up duties at the other end of Tongariro Crossing.
I decided to go find the Tuapapakurua Falls, a great little excursion that starts about 10min drive from National Park. The track is maintained by a local volunteer group, and I discovered they had a unique way of asking people to help them out: At the start of the track were several buckets of gravel, with a note asking you to carry them part or all of the way in to a specific drop-off spot, so they could then spread them on the track. Smart!
Soon I was at the foot of the waterfall. Beautiful it was too, well worth the trip. I strolled back to the car and after a quick side trip to get the Tongariro punters it was time for relaxing in the Lodge.
Sunday dawned bright and clear. Tommy was keen to head up to Ruapehu after bagging Tongariro the day before, and I decided that I should go with him. You don’t get too many days this good, and I’d never been to the top of Ruapehu in the summer before.
So off we headed, first up the chairlifts, and then somewhat surreally planned our ascent over coffees in Knoll Ridge cafe. It all looked clear enough so off we headed – following the T-bar and then drifting left and going up a spur to Glacier Knob.
About two-thirds of the way up the T-bar track, my phone rang. Angela had put her car keys in the big pile of luggage to be packed in the car, and now they were locked inside! But I was past the point of no return. I chided her for being so careless, and continued on my way.
We soon reached the plateau and what a different sight it was compared to winter. Tommy and I trekked across the plateau, trying to stick to the small snow drifts that remained. Soon we had skirted under Dome Ridge and approached the lake. After a brief look at the lake, not getting too close, we headed up to Dome Shelter and admired the view.
Soon we were heading down again. With a bit of bum-sliding down snow in the sheltered gullies, we were soon back at the chair lift and heading down the hill. Angela was awaiting us; she seemed a bit tetchy at me. She must have been frustrated at her carelessness.
So off we headed back to Wellington. I headed back via Whanganui, which was quicker than I expected and a far nicer drive than the main road. A quick stop off at McDonalds (yum!) and we were soon home with great memories of a fantastic weekend.
Marg’s story…
Staying at the WTMC lodge at Whakapapa without snow and ski crowds is a different and wonderful experience. I enjoyed being able to stroll out the door, without having to get all rugged up, into a marvelous, rocky, moon-scape. Our family loved exploring all around the hills and crevices of this remarkable environment… climbing up to an arch rock formation, then picking our way carefully back down. It was fun (though slightly scary) to take two chair lifts right up to the top (or so it seemed) of the mountain, enjoying the view and even finding a small patch of snow to play in.
Another highlight was walking the Old Coach Road, near Ohakune, now part of the New Zealand Bike Trail. With an easy gradient and good information signs it was a pleasant walk up. At the summit there’s an historic railway tunnel, and a little further along the old viaduct bridge. We were lucky enough to be standing right under the new viaduct when the Overlander went through.
There’s certainly a lot to see and explore around the volcanic plateau area any time of the year. We’ll be back!