On Thursday 3rd January 2008 we walked the Tongariro Alpine Crossing based at National Park. We were dropped off by the 'Howards Lodge' bus along with 25 other tourists at 8 am at Mangatepopo and started our morning walking into the sun. The volcanic plateau comprises two massive volcanoes: Ruapehu (2797m) and Tongariro (1967m) — the young, symmetrical cone of Ngauruhoe (2287m) is considered to be a vent of the Tongariro Volcano. The Tongariro Crossing explores the Tongariro-Ngauruhoe complex. This rugged alpine trek is exposed and climbs to 1900m. It is a 17 k walk taking between 7- 9 hours. We completed it, intact and still fresh (or almost) in 7 hours interspered with 4 breaks for a snack and drinks. Mostly, it is not too arduous although one section is quite strenuous. Near the beginning, a 45-minute hand-over-hand climb over raw, black basalt is decribed as having most trekers sweating and pausing for breath.
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