The essential hiking route for fans of 'The Lord of the Rings': this is what it's like to walk through Mordor.
The Lord of the Rings is one of the greatest works of 20th-century literature, but J.R.R. Tolkien's trilogy is also one of the most important in the history of cinema. The films directed by Peter Jackson were a milestone in the seventh art, and since their release more than two decades ago, many fans in Spain have dreamed of crossing the globe and visiting the New Zealand locations where the films were shot.
The oceanic country hosted the filming of the Lord of the Rings adaptations for many months in a row, and the biodiversity of New Zealand's landscapes made it the ideal setting for the different locations of Middle-earth, such as The Shire, Rivendell, the Argonath... and even Mordor itself. On the nation's North Island, you can take a hiking route very reminiscent of the home of the dark Sauron, the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, which runs through imposing landscapes and inhospitable places.
The Tongariro Alpine Crossing, the best route in the world
This stunning 20-kilometer hike is considered the best one-day hike in all of New Zealand, as well as one of the ten most ideal hikes in the world, as can be read on its website. This trail runs through the sublime Tongariro National Park, located in the heart of the North Island and one of three New Zealand sites declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site .
With steep, winding sections, this route meanders through imposing landscapes reminiscent of Mordor and the surroundings of Barad-dûr, the tower from which Sauron sought to rule them all... and that's no coincidence. This route passes through incredible volcanoes, such as Tongariro itself, Ruapehu, and Ngauruhoe, which was used in the Lord of the Rings films as Orodruin (Mount Doom). All of this makes this trail one of the most fantastic on the planet.
Of course, it's important to keep in mind that the Tongariro Alpine Crossing is not for beginners, but rather for experienced trekkers: in addition to its challenging trails, the terrain has elevation changes of over 1,200 meters , and the weather can be unpredictable and extreme. Therefore, it's best to get plenty of miles under your belt before flying to the other side of the world and taking on this exciting challenge.
The route is divided into six stages: the first runs from the end of the Mangatepopo Road to Soda Springs, taking just an hour and a half to complete. The second section is more challenging (known as the 'Devil's Ladder'), as this stretch between volcanoes climbs more than 1,400 meters in the mere 40 minutes it takes to reach the South Crater, from where the third part of the trail begins and leads to the fascinating Red Crater, reminiscent (very much so) of the lava caldera where Frodo destroyed the One Ring.
After reaching the halfway point of the route, you'll walk just half an hour to Blue Lake, a body of water with fumaroles that creates an unforgettable view. After another hour of hiking through these fascinating landscapes, you'll reach an ancient shelter that was destroyed in an eruption in 2012. Then, you'll begin the final stretch of the trail, which leads to the Ketahi parking lot. From there, you can take one of the shuttles to return to your hotel after an exciting day.
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