About the trips

Ruapehu Bulletin, 21 December 1993, Page 9 (Supplement)

About the trips

Whakapapa Restful Ridge Clean up Grade 4. •♦. Help clean up remnants of past attempts to forewarn of Ruapehu eruptions. Glacier Shelter's seismic monitors were linked by cables, now redundant. Bring work gloves, lift access provided. Free trip. Makatote Gorge Grade 3. Come adventuring up this wild river into the depths of a beautiful forest. Good for bird-watchers. Discover a wild gorge and visit a 23metre waterfall. Drive 45km. Blue Ducks Grade 2. 40. Visit Whakapapa River, an important habitat of this threatened species. Keen eyes are needed to spot these well camouflaged birds. Drive 30km. Exploring a Forest Grade 2. *(])♦. Explore the intricate variety of life in the cool green Taurewa and Mangatepopo forest . Drive 35km. Whakapapaiti Headwaters Grade 4. Visit the Whakapapaiti Valley exploring lava flows, waterfalls and alpine herbfields, see rare edelweiss. Return viaRound the Mountain Track to Scoria Flat. 15km drive. Tall Trees Grade 2 ()♦. Visit Ohinetonga Scenic Reserve on the Whakapapa River. Includes an unusual lagoon, swimming hole and picnicking. Drive 35 km. Saddle Cone Grade 4 •♦. A walk to a less visited area. Explore a small volcanic cone and experience the bustle of a gull colony as far away from the sea as it could be. Ngauruhoe Summit Grade 5 ❖#♦. From the end of Mangatepopo Road climb to South Crater, then to the Ngauruhoe summit. Bring putties/gaiters. Drive 35km. Tongariro Summit Traverse Grade 3 From Mangatepopo Road to South Crater and Red Crater. Branch off and climb Tongariro for amazing views. Continue along the summit ridge eventually dropping down parallel to Mangatepopo Valley then to the carpark. Drive 35km. Heli-bike Grade 4 *•♦. Helicopter from Owhango to

the middle of Tongariro Forest. Bicycle out 18 km on old logging trails via the Whanganui River head-waters. Finish at Owhango. Each rider must be self-contained with mountain bike, helmet, eye protectiori and food. Minimum age 14 years. Meet at Owhango at 9am. Mangatepopo History Trail Grade 3 A ramble through Mangatepopo Valley and over Pukekaikiore reliving early human occupation and recent volcanic events. A favoiirite staff trip! Drive 35km. Rock-climbing Grade 2 (!)♦*. A demonstration of climbing and basic lessons on a range of climbs at Happy Valley and Meads Wall. Great for kids 7 years and older accompanied by an adult. Bring a harness if you have one. Equipment provided. Drive 8 km. Search and Rescue Demo Day Grade 1 O. Learn about the equipment and techniques used by the Ruapehu Alpine Rescue Organisation. Geology Field Trip Grade 2 04. Visit some of the geological features of the Tongariro National Park. An insight into the forces that have shape the park, from Whakapapa Village to Mangatepopo. Drive 30km. Alpine Flowers Grade 3 (}♦. Native orchids, large golden buttercups, edelweiss and the harebell bravely surviving the harsh alpine climate of Tongariro. Visit the alpine herb-fields of the Whakapapaiti. Drive 10km. Okupata Caves Grade 2 *04. Explore an underground world of limestone and glow worms. Bring old clothes and a torch. Drive 45km on a rough road. Tongariro Crossing Grade 5 From Mangatepopo Road, to the head of the valley and across South Crater to active Red Crater, the highest point, then past Emerald and Blue Lakes and rest at Ketetahi hot springs before descending through tussock-lands and totara forest. "The finest one day walk in New Zealand", 7 hours' walking. Transport included. Turn Page