Trip Reports

While staying in Takapuna at friends house we decided to climb Rangitoto. 256m high, it took us about 3 hours return with a detour to the Lava Caves.

Awesome day - was a bit windy in exposed places (on the ferry etc) but once on teh track from Islington Wharf it was very sheltered and quite warm.

Nice day - but we missed the first return ferry as we were late starting, and so had to wait at the wharf for 2 hours for the next one.

Main Rangitoto wharf was not in use due to the high winds.

Good easy walk - would recommend.

Walked the Tongariro Crossing from Mangetepopo to Ketetahi, with the detour up to the top of Tongariro.

Awesome weather although previous day was very cold and windy. But morning of walk was windy and cold, but once we got to the head of the Mangetepopo valley, the wind had dropped and conditions were perfect. Still quite a bit of snow around, especially from the top of the South Crater to the Tongariro Summit.

Primo day..>! Took 7 1/2 hours total, but were just cruising.

Only downer was the bus company forgot to pick us up - so we had to get the lodge owner to drop us off.. Thanks Blue..!

Took about 5 1/2 hours return. Was a tough trip - harder than I remember it from 10 years ago. Weather was good, walk was interesting, although track from Ruapane trig to summit is rough and muddy.

Painful knee on descent.

Completed as a training for Tongaririo Crossing.