{"id":1314,"date":"2026-03-02T21:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-03-03T04:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/?p=1314"},"modified":"2026-04-02T19:28:35","modified_gmt":"2026-04-03T01:28:35","slug":"2026-day-39-whakapapa-tongariro-national-park-to-rotorua","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/2026\/03\/02\/2026-day-39-whakapapa-tongariro-national-park-to-rotorua\/","title":{"rendered":"2026 Day 39 Whakapapa\/Tongariro National Park to Rotorua"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

March 2, 2026<\/h2>\n\n\n
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Map: Day 39<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The temperature was cold when we woke up, and snow had been predicted on the mountain peaks. The view outside of our room showed partly cloudy skies except for over the mountains which were hidden as usual.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Morning view from our room<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Clouds were passing quickly over Mount Ngauruhoe<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

We had the breakfast buffet at the lodge, which was very good, and then we packed up to leave for Rotorua. On the way out of the park we stopped to take the short Mounds Walk which had a nice view of the cloud covered mountains. We could see some bad weather in the distance, and there was a little rainbow at the viewing point at the end of the trail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Rainbow on the Mounds Walk<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Bad weather starting to come in<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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View of the cloud covered Mount Ruapehu<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Next we drove back to Tokaanu to see if anything had changed in the thermal area. We did see a new sputtering cone near the entrance that we hadn't noticed before. Otherwise, Taumatapuhipuhi and Hoani geysers were still quiet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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