9 am Update from Whakapapa..
Happy Easter Monday, everyone! Just as we thought the long weekend couldn’t get any better, we received some SNOW… and lots of it 
❄️
There’s only 14 more days left of our Earlybird Season Pass sale – Get in before the May price rise! This winter is going to be better than ever.
www.mtruapehu.com/seasonpass2017
Photo credit: Danyal Taylor
Tongariro Crossing update by Tongariro Expeditions – shuttle bus operators as at midday Easter Sunday:
Due to the forecast only the later shuttles running, expect it to be wet, very cold but not too windy. There might be even a little snow further up the track.
Tomorrow we recommend for experienced hikers. Please make sure they understand the forecast and come prepared. As always hire gear is available on return shuttles only.
If your clients can wait for another day the forecast for Tuesday is great.
OK? TRM had several families staying over Easter for the main attraction being the Tongariro Alpine Crossing… Fortunately it was too wet as we had no chance of talking them out of it as they did not speak much English…
They were too elderly, seriously unfit, and totally unprepared for such an arduous tramp. They were wearing the same clothes that they would wear to ‘climb’ One Tree Hill. OK?
Someone in authority has to sort out the crowding issues, parking issues, queuing issues, delays etc. and not leave it up to the motels and shuttle bus drivers’ discretion to decide.
The delays due to crowding, as indicated in the photos, means everyone needs to add a couple of hours to their planned journey. What should be a great experience is regularly ruined over the last two summers due to the crowding.
See following photos of the crowding and difficulties parking at the entrance on SH 47 Mangatepopo Road end – these were taken on a week day. Walkers have to factor in an extra km or two above the 19 km track to allow for this…
Weekends are far worse. The parking at the SH 46 Ketetahi Road end is far worse…
