Day 50: Turangi 0 Day

Wednesday, January 18

While I could have tried to hitch backwards and hike the section of trail I skipped between Taumarunui and the Tongariro Crossing, I decided it would be much more enjoyable and logistically simple to spend a day with Kristen in Turangi. It was a nice and relaxing day!

We slept in a bit after our early start yesterday, spent a few hours at the library to use the computers, and went to the supermarket a few times.

At some point we stopped at the I-SITE to try to make our plans for the next few days. The weather tomorrow evening and Friday looked acceptable, so I booked a bus ticket to Whakapapa to start the Northern Circuit in Tongariro National Park. I booked the huts on the trail months ago because they fill up over the New Zealand summer. If the weather holds up I'll try to connect it to the round the mountain track for a five-and-a-half day trip. Kristen is trying to plan some hikes before our river trip next week.

We ate lunch at this amazing restaurant called the Cadillac Cafe. It was filled with all kinds of fun retro memorabilia. I ate a delicious banana cruffin with some kind of perfect carmel-y filling.

Kristen used to work at a hostel Tim ran, so we spent the evening talking with him and some of his staff at the hostel. It was a lot of fun, but before long I was ready for bed.

The Cadillac Cafe