The Devil’s Staircase

This photograph was taken in 2008. It’s of the Tongariro Crossing in New Zealand. A walk it was suggested we do whilst in the North Island. We’d been in the country for a wedding and were travelling back to Auckland airport.

The Tongariro Crossing is a 19.4 kilometre trek at an altitude of 1,800 metres. Little did I know the volcanic peaks of Ngauruhoe, Tongariro and Ruapehu are among the top ten single-day treks in the world. It’s popularity due to the incredible scenery and breathtaking Emerald Lakes.

The trek was flat at first and quite enjoyable in the sunshine. I remember laughing just before we started climbing the The Devil’s Staircase. It was short lived. Climbing up uneven layers of lava flows and volcanic deposits was really hard work. Even more of a challenge when I re-broke two of my toes. But there was no going back. The bus dropped everyone off at the start of the trek and collected you at the finish.

The only photograph I have of the Devil’s Staircase shows me at the bottom with fellow trekkers in the background still climbing upwards after 3 kilometers! It was seriously tough but the views from the summit were immense.

This photograph was taken after that following a hike up an exposed ridge. The ant like dots you see on the path are people.

We completed the three volcanic peaks of the Tongariro Crossing in 6.5 hours (above average despite the broken tootsies). We rewarded ourselves with cold lager. It was a hideous yet thrilling experience – we couldn’t walk for days afterwards. Despite all of that it still remains one of my most memorable achievements.

This post is for What’s The Story? the photography Linky on this blog. We’re also linking up with Magic Moments at The Oliver’s Madhouse.



You Might Also Like

  • Sarah MumofThree World July 29, 2013 at 6:45 am

    Wow! What an achievement! What a great thing to have experienced.

    • Charly Dove July 29, 2013 at 6:24 pm

      Thanks Sarah – I wasn’t a fan at the time but the scenery and the emerald lakes were amazing πŸ™‚

  • HonestMum July 29, 2013 at 8:08 am

    Well done for doing the hike, beautiful atospheric pic!

    • Charly Dove July 29, 2013 at 6:25 pm

      Thank you – its a miracle I got to the end. Although there was the promise of cold beer πŸ™‚

  • LauraCYMFT July 29, 2013 at 8:25 am

    That’s an amazing shot. Looks like a tough walk but I can imagine the views were stunning.

    • Charly Dove July 29, 2013 at 6:29 pm

      Thanks Laura – the walk was hideous but incredible views πŸ™‚

  • Iona@Redpeffer July 29, 2013 at 8:53 am

    I can see why so many Scots ended up in New Zealand-it looks stunning. A fantastic achievement for you too. It must have been a great feeling.

    • Charly Dove July 29, 2013 at 6:30 pm

      It was a great feeling when it had ended! No not really, the views were absolutely incredible. New Zealand is an amazing country, we’d like to get back one day and explore the rest πŸ™‚

  • Notmyyearoff July 29, 2013 at 9:47 am

    Wow what an amazing place. I’ve always wanted to go to New Zealand. You describe it beautifully and it’s no wonder its scenery features it epic adventure movies.

    • Charly Dove July 29, 2013 at 6:39 pm

      You should definitely go Tas, it’s a wonderful country. We only saw a bit of it while we were there but we’d love to go back πŸ™‚

  • Mummy Glitzer July 29, 2013 at 10:08 am

    Stunning shot and what a wonderful achievement!

    • Charly Dove July 29, 2013 at 7:52 pm

      Thank you Rachel – it won’t be something I forget in a hurry πŸ™‚

  • Helen Sims The good life mum July 29, 2013 at 10:45 am

    i would love to live at the end of the world its so beautiful and your picture make me crave the adventure again

    • Charly Dove July 29, 2013 at 8:00 pm

      It’s a great part of the world, I’m not surprised πŸ™‚

  • Multi Layer Mummy July 29, 2013 at 11:47 am

    Fabulous photograph, well done for completing the trek despite the poor tootsies!

    • Charly Dove July 29, 2013 at 8:00 pm

      Thank you – tough trek but some incredible sights πŸ™‚

  • Jess @ Catch A Single Thought July 29, 2013 at 12:24 pm

    What an amazing achievement! I’m not sure I would have been able to make it, especially not with broken toes..ouch!

    • Charly Dove July 29, 2013 at 8:01 pm

      Thank you Jess – I reckon you would have made it too. There was no going back, the coach moved πŸ™‚

  • Mummy of Two July 29, 2013 at 12:48 pm

    Wow amazing photo and what a great experience you have to share!

    • Charly Dove July 29, 2013 at 8:02 pm

      Thank you – it was a great experience πŸ™‚

  • Lou's Lake Views July 29, 2013 at 1:05 pm

    Seriously impressive achievement even without considering the broken toes! It looks like a grueling hike πŸ™‚

    • Charly Dove July 29, 2013 at 8:05 pm

      Thanks Lou – seriously grueling but came out the other side πŸ™‚

  • Helen Braid July 29, 2013 at 1:32 pm

    Oh my what an achievement! I lived in New Zealand for 6 months when I was 19 and the scenery of the North and South Islands was spectacular. Your poor toes! x

    • Charly Dove July 29, 2013 at 8:20 pm

      Thank you Helen – how amazing to live in NZ for 6 months. Our visit was far too brief πŸ™‚

  • Sara (@mumturnedmom) July 29, 2013 at 1:59 pm

    Wow, what an amazing hike – and experience. The views must have been stunning. How on earth did you break your toes, again?!

    • Charly Dove July 29, 2013 at 8:07 pm

      The views were incredible Sara – a great experience. Broke toes again stumbling on the lava, was tough to walk on πŸ™‚

  • Jaime Oliver July 29, 2013 at 2:20 pm

    wow how amazing is that!! well done you for managing to do it too with broken toes! xx

    Thanks for linking up with #Magicmoments x

    • Charly Dove July 29, 2013 at 8:07 pm

      Thank you lovely – was an incredible experience albeit a hard one πŸ™‚

  • What’s the story? Sailing away from our family holiday July 29, 2013 at 3:08 pm

    […] linking up with PODcast’sΒ What’s The Story, a linky littered with much-loved […]

  • Man & Buggy Blog July 29, 2013 at 3:19 pm

    Lovely shot. Makes me want to go there now!

    • Charly Dove July 29, 2013 at 8:08 pm

      It’s a great place Jamie – the other parts of New Zealand we saw were too. Would love to go back and check out the rest of it!

  • Cathie B July 29, 2013 at 5:02 pm

    Sweetie – you’re a better person that I am – I would be rubbish at this!!!……. What fab views though and hope your toes recovered nicely xx Stunning photo

    • Charly Dove July 29, 2013 at 8:09 pm

      You would do it too I promise you – I cried. A lot! But the views were something else and the beer at the end wonderful πŸ™‚

  • lisa July 29, 2013 at 5:04 pm

    Wow what amazing place Well done xx

    • Charly Dove July 29, 2013 at 8:09 pm

      Thank you Lisa πŸ™‚

  • Mary @over40andamumtoone July 29, 2013 at 5:15 pm

    Well done you, I know how I’ve felt after some walks in the Lake District – don’t think they quite compare to that though!

    • Charly Dove July 29, 2013 at 8:10 pm

      Thanks Mary – it was seriously hard work and I really wasn’t equipped for it. You would have been so much better πŸ™‚

  • Judith July 29, 2013 at 8:26 pm

    Oh my, broken toes and everything! That is an incredible achievement. I have never really done anything like that and am in awe of anyone who has. Bet that was the best beer you ever tasted.

    • Charly Dove July 29, 2013 at 8:44 pm

      I’m sure you will as soon as the little ones are a bit bigger. That beer was amazing πŸ™‚

  • Dragonsfypoppy July 29, 2013 at 9:58 pm

    That’s a phenomenal achievement Charly. Guess they don’t call it Devil’s Staircase for nothing, eh?! I’ve always wanted to go to New Zealand for the stunning scenery. Somehow it always looks so raw in photographs, just like yours. A fabulous story and great picture xx

    • Charly Dove July 29, 2013 at 10:05 pm

      Thank you lovely lady, the Devil’s Staircase was seriously hard work! New Zealand is fantastic, you’d love it! We’d love to go back one day and explore a bit πŸ™‚

  • older mum in a muddle July 31, 2013 at 9:24 am

    Wow. That is a just brilliant achievement….. and you battled on through with broken toes – don’t know how you did that. I’ll bet the views were spectacular! X.

    • Charly Dove July 31, 2013 at 11:49 am

      Thank you – it was a long time ago but no idea how I did it either! I guess it was the lack of bus to cart me away! The views were something else πŸ™‚

  • Jane August 1, 2013 at 5:47 pm

    What a fantastic thing to do, and with broken toes, I think you need a medal!

    • Charly Dove August 1, 2013 at 7:50 pm

      Thanks Jane – I definitely deserved that beer at the bottom πŸ™‚

  • PODcast | A taste of adventure March 19, 2014 at 3:02 pm

    […] we weren’t particularly well prepared for the 19km walk through three active volcanoes! The Devil’s StaircaseΒ broke me although the Emerald Lakes were […]