This is a photograph of the Emerald Lakes in New Zealand. Minerals leaking from the surrounding rock cause them to be a beautiful turquoise colour. With steam vents above the lakes responsible for a sulphurous smell.
Some say the volcanic peaks of Ngauruhoe, Tongariro and Ruapehu are among the top ten single-day treks in the World. All are highly active, a small eruption occurred as recently as 2012, and the terrain reflects this.
The Tongariro National Park is a World Heritage site. It has the distinction of dual status, as it has been acknowledged for both its natural and cultural significance. Scenes from Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit have also been filmed here.
As part of our 2008 visit to New Zealand, we embarked on a 19.4 kilometre trek across The Tongariro National Park. This sounds like it was planned but it wasn’t – we did it on the spur of the moment. Little did we know how tough it would be or that I’d re-break two toes a couple of kilometres in. Wimping out wasn’t an option either given we were dropped off at the start and collected at the finish.
Climbing uneven layers of ancient and modern lava flows and volcanic deposits was a challenge. The Devil’s Staircase was hard work and steep; up to 1,600 metres above sea level. The view down the valley and across the countryside when we reached the top was something else though.
After passing South Crater on mostly flat ground, we faced an uphill walk on an exposed ridge to the Red Crater. This was just one of several active craters in the Tongariro National Park.
The views over the Oturere Valley, Rangipo Desert, Kaimanawa Ranges and down towards the Emerald Lakes were incredible. Seeing those spectacular Emerald Lakes close-up was definitely a highlight of the trek. Quite surreal too especially after realising the ground was hot to touch and looking at the core of a volcano!
The descent from the Red Crater to the Emerald Lakes was not to be rushed as loose scoria gave way underfoot. There was an old lava flow to the left spreading across the floor of the Central Crater with the Emerald Lakes to the right.
The Tongariro Alpine Crossing track then followed the edge of the Central Crater before trekking up to Blue Lake. This lake is sacred so it was disrespectful to eat or drink around it. The climb to the North Crater was easier and from there we followed the route to Ketetahi Springs where we embarked on the final leg of the trek. The toes were screaming but we made it to the finish and in good time too. We completed the Tongariro Crossing in 6.5 hours – the average being 7-9 hours.
Given the entire length of it is across raw volcanic terrain, at an altitude of up to 1,800 metres, it was a pretty good effort. We rewarded ourselves with an ice cold lager. But not before we’d quenched our thirst so we could savour every single mouthful.
We’re linking this post up with What’s The Story? here on PODcast and Magic Moments at The Oliver’s Madhouse.
Utterly stunning! What a trip and lots of #MagicMoments to cherish forever 🙂
Thank you very much. It was some trip, definitely one that won’t be forgotten 🙂
so stunning. i want to go! x
It was amazing Sarah – well I say that, it was really tough! An incredible experience though and beautiful 🙂
What a trek! It must have been fascinating…
And I love the gorgeous colour of this lake. xx
These lakes were an incredible colour Katia, really bright turquoise. Definitely the best part of the trek – that and having a cold beer at the end!
I love all your stories of your travels and your beautiful photos. Sounds like an incredible trek and I can’t believe you did it with broken toes! Ouch!
Thank you Sarah, that’s so kind of you. It’s rather nice digging up old stories – good to remember 🙂
Stunning photo, and what a story! I love that you trekked that on the spur of the moment – you mad woman! It’s created some amazing memories to treasure, though, I imagine x
Thank you Jocelyn. Our friends did tell us it was a good walk – emphasis on walk not trek. An amazing experience though even if I moaned. A lot 🙂
Wow. Great photo and such an interesting story! #magicmoments x
Thank you Debs 🙂
Looks stunning.
It was really beautiful Iona 🙂
looks beautiful – not good about your toes tho x
The toes did alright, mostly numb by the end! Thankfully I had good walking boots on. It really was beautiful, fabulous views 🙂
Beautiful photo. I did the Tongariro Crossing on a school trip when I was 15 (long time ago)! It was incredible. Lovely to hear of your experience there x
How amazing, what a great age to do it too! I definitely wasn’t fit enough LOL. An awesome experience though 🙂
Looks so beautiful – very aptly named, bet it was stunning in real life.
It was fabulous Tas – really beautiful. It’s not every day you look at a volcano either 🙂
More tales of your amazing travels! Will you take POD to any of these places one day? Photography looks stunning 🙂
They’re quite fun to write these posts! I’d love to take POD to these places one day – just need a windfall 🙂
fabulous picture and another great blog about your time in NZ. Still very envious!
Thanks Afra, we were lucky we were able to go. It was an amazing experience but super tough. I cannot tell you how good that beer was at the end!
Great memories there. The volcanic activity makes for some fascinating features and landscape.
Very much so Fiona. I wish I’d taken more photographs, we only have a handful 🙂
What a beautiful photo! Would love to visit NZ too. The water looks so calm and serene. It’s the kind of place where you’d just want to sit down and get lost in your thoughts 🙂
Thank you Dean. It would have been amazing to sit there for a while but you were also conscious of reaching the collection point so you weren’t stranded 🙂
So when are you bringing out your travel photography book then Mrs?! Beautiful photograph.
Hehe Luci, we’ve not done that much. Wish I had more photos from the past, kicking myself now obviously 🙂
Such a lovely place – it looks very relaxing! 🙂 x
This little spot here was relaxing, the climbing less so. An amazing experience though 🙂
The colour of that water is amazing! Sounds like a grueling trek and the thought of your broken toes is making me wince, ouch!
It was really hard Lou but amazing too. The views were something else – this was definitely my favourite. These turquoise pools were just incredible!
Charly you certainly dont do things by halves do you!! I love it!!
thanks for linking up with #MagicMoments x
I like a challenge Jaime, ok maybe not to this extreme! It was unforgettable though 🙂
That lake is such a gorgeous colour, sounds an amazing place x
It was really fabulous Jeannette and a superb place. I just wish I’d been fitter!
That really was a trip of a lifetime! Stunning. And you did the walk with broken toes, even more impressive!
Thank you Sara, was hard work but the views were something else. We could hardly walk for days afterwards! Well I was just hobbling anyway 🙂
So beautiful! It must have been an amazing trek! x
It’s was incredible looking at these turquoise lakes – wish we could have loitered around there for longer. We still had a way to go though at that point!
How absolutely beautiful! I don’t know how you managed to do it though with two broken toes. It sounds like it was painful but incredibly rewarding to see such views and complete the trek.
It was just fabulous Kriss, amazing colours! You can’t do anything with broken toes so we kept going. The motivation comes from not being stranded I guess – and I’m quite competitive!
Wow – that is stunning. I would love to go to New Zealand… one of my only regrets about my pre-baby life is I didn’t travel enough while it was still easy! I say easy, because with a toddler getting to the bastard supermarket is a challenge enough, let alone another country! lol x
You should so go one day, it’s an amazing place. We only visited North Island so I’d love to go back one day and see more of it. It’s very true they can be a challenge, perhaps a year’s supply of toys could be available on the flight?! Just an idea…!
I could just drink in the serenity of that photograph for hours – it looks like a truly special place. How did you manage to break your toes?? I love reading about your adventures – you should write a book of them x
How lovely although I don’t think we have enough stories, nice idea though. Broke the toes originally slipping on wet steps made of rock – it was either the toes or my head. I re-broke them on the Devil’s Staircase – there’s a reason it has that name! Fabulous photograph, the colour was just incredible 🙂
Oh always go for the toes over the head! Bless you! Thanks for linking up my post on Love All Blogs, and I’m so pleased you’ve linked this up. I just love this post 🙂
A wise decision in that split second! You’re welcome 🙂
Stunning. Absolutely stunning. I would love to visit one day. I fell in love with NZ when watching The Lord of the Rings trilogy. I couldn’t believe how beautiful it was.
Really wish I’d got a photo of more of these pools, there were a few. All such an incredible turquoise colour too. It’s an amazing country, you should definitely visit one day 🙂
Wow the lake looks beautiful! You’re so lucky to have be able to see them. Well done on walking all that way at that altitude!
Lovely story.
#magicmoments
The lakes were just wonderful. A real joy to see especially after the climb just before! A memorable trip though 🙂
What a great photo. The colour is amazing.
Thank you, such beautiful colours at this time of year 🙂
Oh wow, the lakes looks divine, I really need to visit NZ!
You so need to go, it’s such a fantastic place to visit 🙂
Looks and sounds like an amazing place – enjoying reading about your travels over the last few weeks.
Thank you Erica, that’s really kind of you 🙂
What a stunning photo. So amazing you went travelling, it’s something I never did…. I’ll be doing it in my sixties when I’m child free once again haha xx
Thank you Carolynne, wish I’d taken more photos – nowhere near the volume I take these days! I definitely didn’t to enough travelling. Like you I’d love to do a bit when POD is bigger 🙂
This is amazing, absolutely worth two broken toes I think x
It was tough but definitely memorable and such incredible scenery 🙂
I love this linky so much. What an amazing adventure you guys had and the photos are always awesome. We’ve always said NZ is one of our places to visit but not sure they’re ready for Lucas yet! Love looking at your photos so much and reading the story behind them.
Aww thanks Cathie, thanks so very kind of you. All the amazing posts and lovely comments make it so worthwhile. Definitely add NZ to that list of places to go to. I’d love to go back one day 🙂
Wow. What a trek, and a serious one, the colour of the water looks stunning, and I can’t believe you did it on two broken toes !?. Did you have any pain killers? Anything to bandage your foot. Or was it a hobble job. Very impressed with your bravery as I don’t think I could have continued. I would have wimped it for sure! X.
No painkillers and no bandages, we weren’t very well equipped! It was a get on with it until the end job or stay on an active volcano. Cried and whinged a lot but it was an amazing experience 🙂
Wow it looks incredible! I’ve never visited anywhere like that.
#MMWBH
It was incredible but also unbelievably hard – unless it was flat. A memorable experience though!
What a fantastic experience (not the toes part obviously) !
Is so was Annie – the toes made it more memorable!
Marvellous photo and what an experience. Good for you having achieved it with 2 broken toes too. I’ve never done anything quite so amazing, probably why I don’t feel grown up yet.
Hehe we decided it was a good idea at the time, aching so badly for days afterwards! You will have done lots of other amazing things I’m sure 🙂
Wow, what a brilliant photograph and an amazing acheivement, I could almost taste that beer at the end!
That beer at the end was probably the best tasting beer I have ever had! Thank you 🙂
Wow what a stunning photo and an amazing memory. I hope one day our family can have some amazing memories like this.
Thank you Kizzy, it was an incredible experience even if it did make my cry! I’m sure you will have some memories like this – we’ve only had one family holiday thus far. Here’s to more 🙂
I’ve already commented on this gorgeous post from #MagicMoments, but thank you so much for linking up with #MMWBH xx
[…] 2008 trip to New Zealand saw us visit the Emerald Lakes, Waitomo glowworm caves and Bay of Plenty. We broke up the journey home with a brief stop in Hong […]