Readme before you journey
As graduation approached, we decided to plan a spontaneous trip with friends to Wakapapa in New Zealand. Pronounced "Fa-ka-pa-pa," this trip was hastily arranged with minimal preparation. Our primary goal was to enjoy skiing and playing in the snow.
And it has the option to rent or buy. For me, I chose to buy because I thought I would definitely need it again. I mean, the snow elsewhere. So I went to buy it, but since I didn't have much money, I bought it second-hand. I got the goggles for a few hundred baht through Facebook Market. As for the jacket, I bought it from a department store. It was also a few hundred baht (it was a store similar to a clothing outlet).
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The outfit is ready, we are preparing to leave tomorrow. We will be traveling by ourselves, renting a car and taking turns driving. This is the first driver, and this is my first time renting a car and driving in this country.
Before our trip, we learned that a severe snowstorm had hit the central part of the island. Our teacher, knowing we were going, rushed over to warn us. "It's very dangerous to drive in the snow," he said. "You've never driven in it, so you wouldn't know. You need to be prepared with food and supplies." He took our hands and prayed for God's protection. (At that point, I started to get a little scared.) Then another teacher came and said, "You should change to a four-wheel drive vehicle, because the road might be closed. You won't be able to go." Another teacher added, "You definitely won't be able to go. The road is closed. You need to change your date or cancel."
I asked my team if they were willing to take the risk, and everyone agreed. At that moment, I prayed silently that everything would go smoothly. I couldn't believe our luck would be that bad.
The highway leading out of the city is large, but once you leave the city, it becomes quite narrow. The main roads are two lanes, with traffic going in opposite directions. It's important to remember that speed limits are taken very seriously here. Some of my friends got fined for thinking they could drive 80 km/h, and ended up paying hundreds of dollars. Rental cars here cost about the same as in Thailand, no more than 1,000 baht. However, there is a way to rent a car for only 25 baht per day. I'll explain how to do this later.
The first stop we made was a mall near Waitomo, where we stocked up on supplies before heading to our accommodation. The journey from Auckland to Wakapapa normally takes 4-5 hours, but since we were a bit silly and finished our classes in the afternoon before setting off, when most people would have left early in the morning, we ended up getting caught in rush hour traffic. As a result, the trip took us a whopping 7 hours.
We checked with the hotel to see if it was open. If it wasn't, we would have asked to change our accommodation. There is an app in this country that tells you which roads are closed and which are open. We were almost there, about an hour's drive away, so we checked again to see if the road would be open. It turned out that the road was open, so we rushed over immediately.
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The final stretch was brutal. It was a narrow, winding road along a mountainside, shrouded in darkness. In rural New Zealand, streetlights are scarce, and cars tend to drive aggressively. Finding a safe spot to pull over was nearly impossible, especially with the snow falling. I worried that if the snowfall intensified, I would be stranded. But I was close to my destination, and I knew the view would be worth it.
We arrived at our accommodation to find fresh snow all around. It was beautiful, but also very cold. Our group consisted of three Thais and one Japanese person. The Japanese person was probably tired of the snow, haha. For the evening, we warmed ourselves by the fire, played ping pong, chatted, and went out to take photos of the snow.
This review provides a brief overview of The Crossing Backpackers, a wooden, single-story hotel resembling a ski resort. The reviewer describes their stay in a cozy four-bed room with a shared bathroom and access to a kitchen. They highlight the beautiful surroundings and affordable price point. A link to the hotel's location on Google Maps and an image are included.
Before heading up the mountain to ski, we took in the snowy scenery around our accommodation. It was beautiful, wasn't it? As soon as we opened the door, we were greeted by this view. Since our car wasn't capable of driving up the mountain ourselves, we were afraid of falling off the cliff, so we parked it in the designated area and took the bus up. The bus ride is free if you ski on the mountain. We parked our car at the National Park, where most people stay. It's like a hotel community, with lots of hotels located there. The resort where I stayed was a bit further out, but not too far. You can see it on the map here: https://goo.gl/maps/gSmoxiJHE1U2
The bus stop is located next to the National Park train station. Please ask the driver before boarding, as some buses may not be departing immediately.
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The view on the way to Tongariro National Park is amazing. This car will stop at the foot of the mountain, and we need to change to another car. Today, the queue is very long. In fact, there is a bus that goes directly up the mountain, but we must have taken the wrong one. But this place is already fun, so I said that we will come here to play in the snow tomorrow.
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It took us over an hour to get on the bus, which would normally be a short drive. However, I saw cars on the side of the road that had gotten stuck in the snow, which made me decide to take the bus instead. I didn't want to risk getting stuck myself.
We have arrived at the ski resort. There are several packages to choose from. The First Timer package costs $120, which is approximately 3,000 Thai baht. This price includes ski equipment, skis, and boots. However, it does not include clothing, which can be rented separately. I already have my own clothing, so I'm good to go. Oh, and this price also includes the cost of a ski instructor. But if you already know how to ski, you can choose a cheaper package. New Zealanders usually have their own equipment, so they don't need to rent it, which saves them even more money.
The Thrills and Spills of Skiing in Japan
The rental shop offered a variety of slopes to suit different skill levels. While I don't have any pictures of myself skiing, as simply surviving the experience was challenging enough, I can confidently say that the instruction was excellent and thorough. During my lesson, I learned how to ascend and descend slopes, ski, accelerate, decelerate, turn, and maintain balance. It was a fun and hilarious experience, especially with friends.
One particularly amusing incident involved me standing near a slope while listening to the instructor. As I did, my skis began to slide backwards. Assuming my friends would stop me, I was surprised to find myself tumbling over the edge and landing in a heap on the ground. Fortunately, the snow was soft and I escaped with only a bruised ego. Unlike other places where I've encountered hard, icy surfaces, the fresh powder here made skiing much easier and more enjoyable.
While practicing my turns and following the instructor's guidance, a Japanese friend who had gone snowboarding informed us that he had lost his phone. We stopped our lesson to help him search, but the silver phone proved impossible to find amidst the vast expanse of white. Ultimately, we had to call off the search due to the approaching darkness and the need to return our rental equipment on time. Despite the lost phone, the experience was unforgettable, and the thorough instruction I received makes this location highly recommended for anyone looking to learn or improve their skiing skills.
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The descent from the mountain was quick, with minimal waiting time. We enjoyed a simple dinner of roasted and boiled dishes, which was satisfying.
On the final day of our trip, we woke up to find that the snow around our accommodation had begun to melt. We considered ourselves incredibly lucky to have witnessed the scenery on the first day. For this meal, I prepared a simple dish for everyone to enjoy.
On the way back, there was still some snow on the side of the road. As promised, I took them to play in the snow on the way up the mountain. Here, you don't need to put on skis or walk to get tired. You can play as soon as you park the car. Let's take a look at our sculptures. Can we compete? After playing to our heart's content, we were ready to leave, but we couldn't. The ice was too slippery, and we were parked too close together. We had to help each other push and pull the car out. Be careful about this when parking on the side of the road. You can park, but you can't get out. 555
We prepared to travel back through Tauranga Taupo, the giant lake in the middle of the North Island. There are many tourist attractions around here as well, but we didn't have time and could only take a few photos. The place we were going to was Hyka Falls, which is where they filmed Lord of the Rings. https://goo.gl/maps/trhJmvLJxtq
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Huka Falls is a breathtaking sight, best admired from above. While swimming is prohibited, scenic boat tours are available. Opting for a leisurely stroll along the riverbank, I marveled at the stunning turquoise and white hues of the water. Continuing our journey, we arrived in Taupo's charming town center, where a quaint park and a delightful miniature railway provided endless amusement for children. The palpable sense of contentment among the locals was truly heartwarming. https://goo.gl/maps/MLexEGxxun62
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The city borders a large lake, and naturally, it boasts beautiful docks. I took a stroll and snapped some photos. The water here is crystal clear, with ducks gliding across its surface. Boat tours are also available for 35$, which is roughly 875 Thai baht. https://goo.gl/maps/JpFQjiSPF5P2
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After a long drive, we returned to the city around 8 pm. For this car rental, we returned the car by parking it and dropping the keys in a box without any inspection, as we had already purchased insurance.
This concludes my 3-day, 2-night trip to Wakapapa. I hope this serves as inspiration for anyone who wants to experience snow on New Zealand's North Island.
กินเที่ยว360
Wednesday, February 26, 2025 9:48 PM
