Snapshots: Egmont National Park

New Zealand’s North Island has three national parks: Egmont, Whanganui, and Tongariro. On this trip we selected Egmont and Whanganui, two of New Zealand’s less-visited parks. We’ve spent two days hiking Egmont’s lovely trails, with two more days to go. Saturday January 6 9:50a Wellington Central Railway Station, Platform 9 (Bus) 12:10p Palmerston North City… Continue reading Snapshots: Egmont National Park

Easing Back

Egmont National Park, Day 2 of 4. After yesterday’s Big Climb, we eased back and hiked lower-altitude forest tracks starring numerous waterfalls and furry trees hosting mosses and epiphytes.

Hiking on All Fours

Clambered, sometimes on all fours, over volcanic scree to reach this hut at 6,450 feet. We turned around at the hut and rode the scree back down. We’d need ice axes, crampons, and the skill to reach the summit of Mount Taranaki at 8,261 feet.

DC Hydro Power

Our room for the next few nights in a small lodge built in 1896 half-way up a mountain. Many of the electrical outlets are DC, powered by possibly the oldest operating hydroelectric generator in the southern hemisphere.