Beautiful West coast: Taranaki and Wanganui

After unsuccessful attempt to do the Tongariro crossing, we didn't want to waste time, so we immediately had to decide where to go. The choice fell on the west coast and I think we couldn't do much better. So we started the engines and went for a long ride west. (Well, it was only 250 kms, but in NZ you have to count at least with 4-5 hour drive for this distance - there are no highways here so most of the time you drive through the hills behind the big trucks with no chance to overtake :))

On the way we quite accidentally ran into this place. They say it is a place where the movie Hobbit was shot (I can't tell as I didn't see the movie - still pissed that the greedy bastards divided it in three parts). Anyway, to get closer to these rocks than the distance on the picture, you have to pay $50 for a "tour"! Honestly, fuck off!  If no stupid hollywood crew was once in this spot, nobody would ever give a shit about it (except few sheep maybe).

Luckily, right next to the hollywood studio were quite nice waterfalls, so we cooled our heads down and enjoyed some nature for free ;)

After getting to New Plymouth (the biggest town in Taranaki), we found out what is to see there and decided that if the weather will be good the next day, we will climb the Mt Taranaki - 2nd highest mountain (volcano) in the North island (2518m).

Next day we woke up to a beautiful morning, so we packed our stuff and prepared for an all day hike. From the distance Mt Taranaki looks pretty majestic, as there are absolutely no other mountains next to it.

The whole hike, except the one last hour before the summit maybe, was really annoying. First a wide concrete/gravel trail which then changed to a "stairway to heaven" (see picture) and finally endless gravel fields - this was unbelievably exhausting and frustrating as you needed triple energy for half a normal step.

Despite the fact that it was not the nicest hike ever, the views were beautiful - I have never climbed a volcanic terrain before, so it was really nice experience for me. With the clouds covering the summit it sometimes looked like a way to Mordor :)

Exhausted after passing the gravel part. As we hiked, the whole country below us got covered with clouds, so we had this kind of cloud views for some time. On the way back everything was clear again so we could enjoy the views on whole Taranaki coast as well. - little demonstration how quickly the weather changes in NZ. So going for a whole day hike, you really have to be prepared for anything..

The summit - the crater of the volcano - welcomed us with the first snow in NZ :) 

The summit crew - Liso (ARG), Chris (GER), Alan (ARG) and me. During the hike we somehow separated and got to the summit in 2 groups and when me and Chris were already leaving the summit after lunch and some rest thinking that the argentinos gave up, from behind the corner we spotted totally exhausted Frodo and Sam carrying the ring :))) so we were happy to be able to make this picture all together and climb down.

Apart from Mt Taranaki, Taranaki is well known for its surf (probably the best surf in NZ). The coast is shaped into a form of letter C, so any wind from the range N, NW, SW, S makes a off-shore wind somewhere around the coast. Along the coast there is a road - Surf highway 45, from where there are plenty of either well-known or hidden roads to the sea.

Hawera - one of the surf spots in south Taranaki. 

Unfortunately, I didn't get to surf in Taranaki :((while in New Plymouth there were almost no waves, in south Taranaki the swell was already coming, but the strong onshore wind was devastating the waves). 

We ended the west coast trip in a nice town - Wanganui. Notice the little red building at the bottom of the picture - it is the only elevator operating inside the hill in southern hemisphere. Such an honor to have a ride. Hahaha :)))

The river location of the town and also few buildings and squares gave me a little nostalgic feel of european towns :)

Victoria street - in brochure from the local isite described as most beautiful main street in NZ. Well, haven't been in all NZ towns (yet), but definitely the nicest from what I've seen until now.

Next plans - hmm, God knows.. :) right now we will be passing the region of sheep farms, so maybe I will finally get to the sheep cutting ;)