Further to TRM’s exposure of parking delays and crowding problems on the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, TV1’s Seven Sharp programme on 25 October – go to TRM Facebook if you missed it.  Viewers comments and response are interesting…

The Tongariro Alpine Crossing. It’s big & it’s beautiful, but it can be extremely dangerous if you’re not properly prepared.

With 120,000 people set to walk the crossing this summer, here’s what you should know before you take on Mount Doom.
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Comments

Michelle Cliffe An even bigger issue is how these crowds are destroying the walk. I went in March… 3,000 people went that weekend. There is no regulation on numbers and no charge for the walk.. completely crazy! There are minimal toilet facilities so we were seeing toilet paper on the track and the toilets at the hut had queues of 50 people for 2 toilets… you could smell them a km away.. it just wrecked what is a beautiful walk. If we are to preserve these amazing places that people are going to want to visit, we MUST regulate numbers and charge at least a token amount to allow amenities to be built to support these numbers. Come on DOC… before it’s too late!

Katrina Nicholson
Katrina Nicholson Totally agree💯 the Emerald lakes were also surrounded by rubbish, gone are the days DOC actually cared about the environment!!

Michelle Heywood
Michelle Heywood I got a chopper ride out! Got most of the way thru, then a small slip…bam broken ankle! Seriously is a huge walk and not ‘a walk in the park’. I was prepared! I saw people walking it with jandals on beginning of May.

Michelle Heywood My mountain of doom 😳

Kirsty Lewis Did this in February, great walk but people In jeans, Jandals and carrying handbags. Particular credit goes to the girl who wore a cape and carried a model of frodo the whole way round

Marie Daugherty I hiked this crossing twice in the 80’s and , yes it is exhilarating and dangerous at the same time. The weather can change in minutes! Great memories!!!

Amanda Parsons Done it loved it but don’t think it’s an easy walk, it’s not. Be prepared for drastic weather change. One of the most beautiful dramatic one day walks.

Dermot Mayock Good report, thanks. It’s getting more like UK and Snowdonia. Thousands going up every day and as they are only around for few days push the limits.

Megan van Westbrook Reggie Miller this is what Courtenay van Westbrook has planned for you at some stage! At least you don’t have to camp overnight !

Grant Turnpenny It is a good tramp.Only one hard part {where the track climbs up a steep hill}.Called devils staircase I think?

Audrey Hinder SimoneandShane Olsen Ticked off our bucket list and blessed with good weather 🙌

Simon O’Neill There’s no view worth a free helicopter ride… http://www.greenlea.co.nz/About/Greenlea-Rescue-Helicopter

Ren Urriza I’ve done that. One thing you must do if you living or visiting NZ north island 😉

Mandy Erasmus Rosanne and Shaun what about this challenge 😜

Shaun Lion-Cachet are you going to wear high heels ?

Rosanne Lion-Cachet You’re on!! All of us again

Mandy Erasmus Shaun Lion-Cachet yes and a dress 😂

Tracey Clode Amazing walk, did it weekend before last. We have such a beautiful country, can see why they want to make movies here, but yes need to also protect our beautiful land. Feel blessed to be born in such a beautiful country 🙂

Lyndsey Anselmi If you are reasonably fit you are okay. I have run this

Ian Delaney Sarah Rasmussen we need to do this one day

Sarah Rasmussen Would love to do this! Let’s book it in for the new year! Xx

Ian Delaney Sounds good xx

Haylin Neal Next step Molly 😉?

Kath Grindrod Sara Duffy we will be ready!!

etc……

Below is TRM Daily Report for 19 October:

Last summer TRM (Tongariro River Motel) received so many negative comments from disappointed tourists after they returned from the Tongariro Crossing.

They were complaining about being misled by NZTourism and other agencies over the parking and delays and lack of facilities and severe crowding issues, etc. that we were obliged to prepare something to warn prospective guests in time for 2016/17 summer season.

An average day sees 1,000 walking the track.  On busiest days last summer it is a complete shambles with over 4000 trampers per day queued on the crossing.  The annual number of walkers has increased from 80,000 to 120,000 in the last three years says DOC’s Whakapapa Conservation Services Manager, Paul Carr.

The last Tourism Business magazine featured the congestion on their cover, suggesting a new concept of “park & ride”?  One proponent of the concept is tourism consultant and former park ranger, Dave Bamford – “Given our tourism growth to key areas, park and ride systems using buses to transport people from a visitor centre or main car park to our highly pressured, special conservation places are a very compelling concept.”

Stew Barclay of Adrift Outdoors who hold a guiding concession for Tongariro National Park, says “the car parking is a shambles.  On busy days cars are parked up on kerbs and along the road side for several km at Mangatepopo and all the way to the main road from Ketetahi, and that’s with 75% of the walkers travelling by shuttle buses from local towns.  It is a dog’s breakfast.