As requested drove Tariga and Beatrix to National Park so they could have a couple of days of skiing, and I could go for a walk. We drove off Saturday morning on State Highway 1, 3, 4 to get to National Park, a route void of traffic. Weather looking OK, really a very fine day as we approached our destination. Mt Egmont was visible. That's it all the real high mountains that the North has to offer we could see.
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| Mount Ruapehu |
Stopped for photos, in case it clouded later.
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| Tariga and Beatrix |
Arrived National Park early afternoon and dropped the skiers off at
Howards Mountain Lodge, then State Highway 47 and 48.
Saturday 30/08/2014
Parked up at Whakapapa opposite DOC. Popped in for a look and got BJ34 to assist my wander, then sat outside drinking a coffee and planning which way I would wander off. Easy decision as BJ34 dosn't have East of Whakapapa so West towards Whakapapaiti I went. Loved the scenery and with the temperature it was a nice walk.
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| Mt Ngauruhoe |
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| Slipper Gully |
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| Forest view |
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| Mt Ruapehu |
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| Whakapapiti Hut |
Hut with a full wood shed and a seat with a view of Whakapapa Skifield.
Sunday 31/08/2014
Wander across a landscape rich in reddish brown color reminding me of Central Otago around Alexandra heading to Mangaturturu hut.
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| Makatote and Manganui-ote-Ao river valleys |
Can see where I will be walking for the next couple of hours.
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| Ruapehu |
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| Clouds |
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| Mangaturuturu Hut |
Another stocked wood shed and seat with views of yet another ski field.
Monday 01/09/2014
A reverse of yesterdays walk with different weather, slight rain with little wind. Much less view stops due to the cold.
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| Lake Surprise |
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| The cold place |
Walking thru the cold place I passed the only person I saw heading to where I had left and I was heading to where he had left, we stopped for a brief hello as the weather was not suited for idle conversation.
Tuesday 02/09/2014
Last day of being here and not many hours back to the car. Did a tidy of the hut and left wood for the next visitors. This is a nicely situated hut and is warm and comfortable. Can see myself returning here.
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| Interior Whakapapaiti hut |
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| Pinnacle Ridge |
A nice easy walk that got a bit iffy after I wrenched my knee and sprained my ankle in the last snow slope before Bruce Road. At least the sealed roads are easy to walk on.
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| Bruce Road |
Trip Times
Saturday 30/08/2014
1430 Left car at Whakapapa
1717 Whakapapaiti hut
Sunday 31/08/2014
0954 Left Whakapapaiti hut
1005 Junction
1358 Lake Surprise
1426 Mangatururu hut
Monday 01/09/2014
0904 Left Mangaruruturur hut
0938 Lake Suprise
1251 Junction
1301 Whakapapaiti hut
Tuesday 02/09/2014
0749 Left Whakapapaiti hut
0749 Junction
0826 Bruce Road
0911 At the car
Map Stuff
A few of the NZ Topo50's are needed as follows:
- BH34 Raurimu
- BH35 Turangi
- BJ34 Mount Ruapehu
- BJ35 Waiouru
View Larger Topographic Map
Density
Just one.
Note to self -
I am not a driving instructor. I am not a driving instructor. I am not a driving instructor.
