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<\/a><\/p>\nAs I said, my fellow backpackers were a big party bunch and sleeping in a shared bedroom was also quite an adventure. I had to go to bed early, because we had an early start for the crossing (6am), but when everyone finally settled in their squeaky beds it was 2am already. Yay 4 hours of sleep for me, but expectations were to big to be bothered being frustrated.<\/p>\n
We took a guided tour to the National park, due to the winter here that can make the weather conditions very unpredictable \u00a0up there. A shuttle bus picked us up at our hostels, the guides geared up everyone who were dressed like they’re going to the beach and we were off.<\/p>\n I was keeping up the pace with the fastest guide, but when I was confronted with the magical Tongariro scenery, my camera was guilty for making me \u00a0a bit slow. The hike was about 19km long and I finished it in around 6-7 hours. The hardest were not the devils stairs, but the last 5km! I did it without any blisters, without eating any junk food. I fuelled up with my healthy risotto and getting all of the pretty pictures with a bit of dirt in my lens (dammit!).<\/p>\n It was incredible, majestical and unforgettable. The next backpacking trip is definitely happening in summer, when we could plan the great nine New Zealand walks and camp in this beautiful nature.<\/p>\n I tried to share my\u00a0experience of the Tongariro Crossing<\/strong>\u00a0by putting it into words, but in the end all I can say is it\u2019s a \u2018New Zealand must do\u2019. Even for the \u2018less\u2019 athletic ones. I promise, it\u2019s a experience you\u2019ll never forget!<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n