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2024 Waiouru Military Area Travel Guide: Must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transportation routes (updated in October)
Popular Attractions
Tongariro National Park
Tongariro: Mount Doom from The Lord of the Rings.
Mount Doom is where the hobbits threw the One Ring.
The trail is 19.4 kilometers long (possibly longer). On the day of the hike, temperatures ranged from 4°C to -7°C.
It rained the day before, and there was snow on the summit. The trail may not always be open the next day.
Check with the counter at 7 AM to see if the shuttle bus is running. Since we only stayed one night, we decided to go regardless. Luckily, we didn't book the shuttle bus. Driving ourselves for 15 minutes cost 1100 per person, saving 4400 for food. 😆
The parking lot has a maximum stay of four hours. If you plan to reach the summit, the round trip will definitely exceed this time, so booking the shuttle bus is necessary. When we returned to the parking lot and saw our car, we were relieved it wasn't locked or ticketed. We felt immense gratitude at that moment.
Starting the hike felt like embarking on the quest from The Lord of the Rings. The surroundings were dry yellow grass due to the volcanic activity, with black and rust-red stones and soil. From the initial desolation to the misty and snowy plains, then icy paths leading to the snowy summit, the changing scenery in the volcanic terrain was truly a marvel of nature.
The highlight of my life!! NZ Tongariro crossing
The tongariro crossing was honestly incredible. You get the chance to hike up an active volcano, It was around a 10 hour hike. The hike is not easy but the views you have along the way are breathtaking and 100% worth it. Once you get to the top you realise what you have achieved and everything feels so surreal! #newzealand #newzealandtravel #Hiking #Volcano #Tongarirocrossing #Travel
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