I visited a lot of the thermal valleys Rotorua has to offer, and Wai-o-Tapu was by far my favourite (and the best!)
I was actually lucky to visit here. This was on my list of things to do, however when researching it – I found out it was shut for maintenance and updates. I didn’t even realise it was open till I decided to look it up the day of visiting. It turns out it’s been open since early October.
But the big question is, is it worth it? I think so! I had a blast here, and with a love for photography I had a great time capturing the different and unique pools.
Where is it?
It should be noted that Wai-o-Tapu is only open Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
Wai-o -Tapu is located about 25mins from Rotorua. It gets very popular in peak times and during school holidays.
How much does it cost?
Entry to Lady Knox Geyser and the Thermal Valley are as below.
Adult: $32.50NZD
Child: $11NZD
Family: $85NZD (2 adults, 2 children)
Family: $85NZD (2 adults, 3 children)
You can purchase your tickets online or at the ticket counter. If you purchase them online, you have 3 months from the purchase date to use them. There is no limit to how many people are let in the park, so you do not need to enter at a certain time.
Things to do?
Wai-o-Tapu is in essentially spilt into three attractions; the mud pool, Lady Knox Geyser and the Geothermal Area.
You will have to pay to see the Lady Knox Geyser and Geothermal Area. The mud pool is a free attraction and worth seeing, as it is the largest mud pool in the southern hemisphere!
This attraction is only able to be seen at 10.15am, it runs for about 45mins and then the gates to this area are shut. It can only be accessed with a ticket from Wai-o-Tapu.
I’ll be truthful, it was impressive to see BUT it is triggered by man, so it’s not a nature beauty or anything.
The history behind this place is very fascinating. There is a prison a little while away from the geyser, and prisons stumbled across this area. Which used to be a fairly large pool. They realised it was warm and decided to use this to their advantage (as this was a luxury for them!).
They started washing their clothes down in the pool, with a particular soap which causes a chemical reaction. This caused their clothes to shoot up into the air, and gave them quite a surprise! The prisoners than built the structure you see today to add to the height their clothes went. This was their entertainment!
It got the name Lady Knox Geyser, simply because it was named after the person who came to check on the prisoners welfare (Mr.Knox) daughter.
This walk is fairly easy and will take you roughly 2-3 hrs to complete; depending on how long you stop for, how much you stop and your fitness level.
The walk is relatively flat, with some sections which require climbing of stairs. It’s not hard to do at all, just wanting to warn people that there are some stairs!
The path takes you around several geothermal pools, the most impressive being the champagne pools. You then have a choice to complete just walk 1 or add walk 2 & 3. I recommend you do the whole thing.
You get very impressive views and a lot of range on this walk. Make sure to have your camera ready! I would also make sure you have a hat and some sunscreen as there are parts of the track that have no shade cover.
TIPS
The walk gets very busy straight after the Lady Knox Geyser presentation. So I would recommend you visit the mud pools first, then come into the geothermal park. Otherwise you will be very crowded.
Walk all three walks to get the best range of scenery
Wear hat and sunscreen on hot days
If you are not interested in seeing the Lady Knox Geyser, I would come in the late afternoon when the crowds start to disappear
Click here for a detailed two week North Island itinerary!
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This blog is a review of my time in the Beta 2 Berth campervan from Spaceship rentals! I rented one of these campervans for my short time travelling through Tasmania. This review will include what the lay out is like, the company and service and pick/drop off experience.
This post contains affiliate links – I may make a small commission if you use them, don’t worry at no extra cost to you!
Photo supplied by Spaceship Rentals
The Company and Service
Spaceship Rentals are a budget campervan service which operates in the UK, New Zealand, and Australia. They offer a range of basic yet efficient campervans to suit solo, couples and families. Their campervans although not fancy, offer everything you need for a road trip, with simple comforts and design.
All of their campervan rentals include:
Unlimited Kilometres
Sleeping and cooking gear
Australian campervan come with a fridge/freezer.
Rear awning
One-way trips at no extra cost
No extra fee for younger drivers (must be 18 years old)
After hours pick up and drop off as a free service
Included standard insurance.
Picking up the Campervan
The Spaceship campervan rental deport in Hobart offers a no contact pickup/drop off service. This meant I was able to pick up my campervan at any time, whenever my flight arrived. Which was extremely handy meaning I didn’t need to rush. The whole pick-up process was smooth and easy. Prior to arrival you are given instructions on how to pick up the van, as well as codes for the lock box.
Once you’ve entered the code into the lockbox, you pick up your key and find your van – that’s it! You then need to check your van and the forms that will be inside the van. To make sure all the wear and tear has been recorded (I also recommend taking photos). You then sign the rental agreement and drop it off in the letter box out front. The whole pick-up service was very smooth.
The only negative feedback I have from my experience was trying to find the place to begin with. It’s hidden at the back of an alley way and took asking another business to find out exactly where it was.
Dropping off the Campervan
As there was only one rental deport in Hobart, I dropped the campervan off at the same place I picked it up. The drop off process, like pickup was easy and is contactless. The campervan has to be cleaned inside and out prior to drop off and have a full fuel tank. There is a carwash close to the deport which is very handy.
Once you’ve parked the campervan, you drop off the keys in the letter box and are on your way. You will then receive a message letting you know if your cleaning was satisfactory and if you owe anything from your bond.
The Pricing
Spaceship campervans are considered a budget rental company, and have some of the cheaper day rates out there. You are looking at paying anywhere between $75 AUD to $90 AUD per day, depending on what campervan you choose. Spaceship campervans are also known from having heaps of great deals!
All up I spent $2197 AUD for a Beta 2 Campervan for 13 days. This is also surprisingly cheaper than a rental car.
Please note: prices are subject to change at any time without any notice. Prices vary during seasons, and don’t include extras or insurance.
Beta 2- Campervan Review
I went with the BETA 2 premium Campervan for my travels through Tasmania. This particular design does not have a backseat which allows for a lot more room to move around and set up the sleeping arrangements. Its only suitable for 2 people and was very spacious just for me.
All your cooking and cleaning gear is included in the price of the rental, which was very handy! This campervan came with a fridge, this was only a 15-20L but was enough for one person. It came with two stoves, a full water jug, pots, pans, plates, bowls, and all cutleries.
The kitchen also included dish soap, sponges, and tea towels.
The kitchen is in the back of the campervan, and you will need to lift the back to access it. This does mean you cannot lay on the bed while cooking, which never was a problem for myself, but might be for others. There is a wooden panel which can be placed on the two metal legs that fold out at the back of the vehicle, making a table suitable for cooking.
My only down fall with this set up, is how loud the box shuts – you have to use a bit of control in the early mornings to try not and wake other campers up.
The best part about this campervan was that I didn’t need to ever do much to set up the bed. Half the bed is always set up in this set up, all you need to do for night-time is pull out the two metal poles which are located at the front of the bed (towards the front of the vehicle) and lay the wooden plank down/place the extra mattress on top.
The bed was very spacious and would have plenty of room for two people. I do unfortunately have some negative feedback about this set up. The wooden plank that you use to set up the end of the bed, is the same one of the table for the camp kitchen. This means you must haul it from the front of the vehicle to the back when needed. It can be a bit of a hassle.
My second negative point is that the plank doesn’t fit perfectly on the metal poles. I would wake up in the middle of the night with the plank sliding, and sometimes even fallen. It did become a bit annoying towards the end of the trip, having to wake up and constantly fix it. This could of very well just been a small fault in the vehicle I had or It could be a minor design flaw.
The campervan does come with all your sheets, pillows and blankets – which is very handy! The curtains also give great coverage and block out heaps of light.
When I say there is a lot of space in this campervan for luggage, I mean there is a lot of space! I had two pieces of luggage with me and had absolutely no problem storing them. There is a very large lock box located at the front of the vehicle, under the bed set up. This can easily store two suitcases and can be locked for extra security. You also do have a lot of floor space where you can put other items or another bag.
This campervan had a smart battery system, so I was able to charge a few devices inside the campervan. It comes with 2 USB ports, which are found on the left side of the storage box. This power supply is limited and does mean you have to turn off the fridge at night-time, in order to keep the power system running.
It was enough power to keep my phone charged overnight and a few other devices but wouldn’t be great for long term or rural travel.
This campervan was automatic transmission, so it was very easy to drive. The seats were comfortable and very spacious, even with a passenger. There is a JBL unit, so you can connect your phone and play your own music – which is always a plus.
My Experience
I enjoyed driving this campervan from Spaceship rentals for the 13 days I was in Hobart, and found it very easy to get around in. The sleeping arrangement was spacious – although needs some small improvements and the kitchen had everything I needed.
If you are in the market for a cheap campervan that isn’t overcrowded and has all the basic necessities, I would highly recommend looking into Spaceship rentals. Although, I wouldn’t recommend this campervan for more than two weeks of travel, purely due to the lack of power supply.
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Waimangu Volcanic Valley was the third geothermal reserve I visited in the Rotorua area. It was also the most expensive. I wanted to explore as many geothermal areas as I can while I was in the area, mainly to experience them all, but also so I could give my recommendations on which ones are worth visiting.
In this blog post I will be giving my honest review of the Waimangu Volcanic Valley, so you can make the decision whether it’s worth visiting or not!
A Little History
Waimangu Volcanic Valley is the youngest geothermal system in the world. Here you can experience volcanic craters, hot water springs, and rare and unusual plant life. June 10th 1886 is when Mt Tarawera and Lake Rotomahana erupted. This is also when a new eco system began.
In 1900’s the world largest geyser began to erupt with black discharge. This geyser was names “Waimangu” which means black water. It began to cease eruptions in 1904. From here new lakes and many more eruptions happened.
Waimangu is significant as it is the only geothermal system in the world which has been created within written history (within the last 5000 years). This is also the only geothermal system in New Zealand which has not been altered by mans activity.
It has a geothermal aquifer of approximately 60 square kilometres, with a depth of approximately 2-3km within the earths crust. In other words, its big.
Where is it?
Waimangu Volanic Valley is located in the Bay of Plenty area, approximately 20mins from Rotorua. This was the quietest geothermal valley I visited, but I can imagine it getting packed in the peak season.
How much does it cost?
There are several experiences which you can do in the Valley.
The full Waimangu Experience: This includes the self guided walk and a boat cruise. This costs $89NZD per adult, $30NZD per child and $215NZD per family.
Self Guided Walk – This includes a self guided walk exploring the geothermal area, this is what I opted for. This costs $44NZD per adult, $15NZD per child and $100NZD per family.
Boat cruise – This take you on the water of Lake Rotomahana, where you get to discover the history of Mount Tarawera’s eruption. This is not accessible via foot. Costs are $47NZD per adult, $15NZD per child and $115NZD per family.
Even though I only did the self guided walk, looking back I WISH I did the boat cruise. Id would have been incredible to see the areas which cannot be explored via foot.
My Experience
Despite the incredible history of this Volcanic Valley and its significance, I honestly did not find it to be the best geothermal valley in the Rotorua area. There was a lot to see, but there was nowhere near as much as Wai-O-Tapu.
Also keep in mind that I did not do the boat cruise and doing the boat cruise may of changed my opinion greatly!
The walk is all downhill, and you are picked up via shuttle bus at the end. This is great, otherwise you would have to walk all uphill, which wouldn’t of been fun. The shuttle bus runs roughly every hour, and there are several bus stops along the way. Although, I recommend you complete the whole walk.
You do get impressive views along the walk and see some natural marvels. Maybe as this was my third geothermal reserve, I had seen it all, and wasn’t too impressed? The highlights for me where the Frying Pan Lake Crater and the Inferno Crater. I did also walk up the mountain to get some views, however, there really weren’t any.
The walk was not hard, only the uphill part which I did, which is not needed. There are some amazing views, but in my honest opinion, unless you are doing the boat cruise, I think I would explore some of the other geothermal areas.
So was it worth it? If you decided to go, do the boat cruise. I feel like that would provide a lot more interesting views and factors to this valley.
Click here for a detailed two week North Island itinerary!
In October 2023 I completed the Everest Circuit in the Everest region of Nepal. This hike took me 17 days to complete. It was both a mental and physical challenge, one of the hardest challenges I have done to date.
This hike must be the most scenic hike I have ever done and the most time I spent in high altitude. Especially as I didn’t taker Diamox (a high-altitude drug) for the duration of my time.
I have now completed hikes in both the Everest and Annapurna region of Nepal – if you have to choose one area, I’d recommend the Everest Region and Circuit.
This blog post contains affiliate links – If you choose to use them, don’t worry at no extra cost to you! I may earn a small commission, thank you for supporting my small business.
Everest Circuit – Overview
Distance– 170-200km (give or take, km aren’t used in Nepal, just hrs) Days Required– 15-20 days Total Elevation – 5545m (Kala Pathar) Difficulty – Moderate to Hard, lots of steep asents/descents Accommodation – Guesthouses/Teahouses or Camping (World Expeditions) Cost– $1200-$4000 AUD (Depending on tour)
Do I need a Guide?
Unlike the Annapurna region where it is possible to hike solo, you will need a guide for any hikes in the Everest Region. From 1st April 2023, the Nepalese government has changed the rules – travellers can no longer hike the region without a professional guide.
You can hire a private guide when you arrive in Kathmandu, or you can book a tour.
What about a Tour?
I went on a tour for this trek, and I would highly recommend you do as well. After extensive research I decided to book with World Expeditions. My experience with World Expeditions is one of the best I’ve had, and you can read my full review here.
I would recommend a tour as it takes away the stress and hassle of trying to organise accommodation, porters, guides, and food. The guides are also very knowledgeable and having the backup from a company in case of an emergency is a big plus. Just make sure you look for companies which will pay and support their porters a decent wage!
You can use platforms like Travel Stride to help find the best deals on local and international tours around Nepal!
Accommodation?
As I travelled with World Expeditions for the Everest Circuit, my accommodation included a mixture of tents and tea houses. We mainly were in tents the first couple days on route, then moved to teahouses in the colder, higher up areas.
The tents were very comfortable, clean and I enjoyed them better than the tea houses! The tea houses are great when it’s freezing cold or when the weather isn’t in your favour through.
What was the weather like?
It was warm the first few days, then the temperature dropped massively – it even snowed! This was in October where the weather should have warmed up. My group had clear weather the whole time which was very fortunate. I would make sure to pack plenty of layers, as 12 out of the 17 days we were walking in temperatures below 0 (although sometimes it didn’t feel like it with the sun).
I mainly walking in leggings, hard shell pants, long sleeve top, puffer jacket and a hard-shell jacket. You can view my packing list for Nepal here.
Health Insurance?
It is always recommended to get health insurance, especially if you are completing a high-altitude hike! Most hiking companies won’t let you complete a hike unless you have coverage up to 6000m for these hikes. I would also recommend getting insurance with helicopter evacuation, it is much more common than you may think!
An insurance company I will always recommend is Covermore, as they have the most extensive cover.
If your hike follows the same plan, today you fly from Ramechhap to Lukla, then have a short walk to Ghat. This day is very easy and crossing over a few swing bridges, through the town of Lukla and near some streams. The flight is a whole experience in itself! I found it very fun, with beautiful views – but if you hate flying, you will hate this day.
A bit of a longer hike today, however, the terrain was very easy. There were a few stair sections of ascending and descending sections – but it was nowhere near as bad as Annapurna Base Camp.
DAY 3 – Monjo to Namche
Walking time: 4hrs Difficulty: Easy/Medium Elevation: 3440m Accommodation: Tea house
This section might require a little bit more fitness, as there are a few more steep ascents and stairs. You will cross 3 swing bridges, one which is very high. On a clear day (if you are lucky), you will get your first view of Everest! There are plenty of gorgeous mountain and valley view’s today.
Namche is the last place that has a few stores, so if you need anything I would stock up here! That includes hiking equipment (recommend poles), snacks or shopping.
Today we were meant to wake up early for sunrise and head to the lookout point only 5 mins from our accommodation, unfortunately the weather wasn’t clear enough, so our guides scrapped this. We headed up after breakfast and got the best views yet, 360 views of mountains. Here you can also see a rock from the Dead Sea and Everest – highest and lowest points on Earth. You will also get views of Everest here.
The first section today is mainly ascending, till the Everest View hotel. This is a common stop for treks in this area, as it allows hikers to acclimatise while having a snack or cup of tea. After an hour or so, we descended – the path was easy from here to the campsite.
Today started off with a steep ascent up for about 1.5hrs, consisting of both stairs and dirt paths. Once we arrived at a small town on the top of the hill, we sat here for 30mins to acclimatise (3990m). After, it’s a steep ascent down to the river, which involves many steps.
We had lunch at Phortse Tenga Camp (3600m), which is the old World Expeditions campsite, before a 1hr ascent up to Phortse town. In this area you can see plenty of rare wildlife if you look out for it (and are lucky), we saw a Musk deer, which is apparently very rare!
A very short but tiring day today, the steep ascent you made after lunch yesterday, you descent down that today and ascent on the other side of the river. This is only about 30mins of ascending, but it is steep. There is only 30 mins of downhill today, the rest is all uphill.
DAY 7 – Dole to Macchermo
Walking time: 3hrs Difficulty: Medium Elevation: 4410m Accommodation: Teahouse
You are well above the tree line today and get to see some incredible mountain views. This section is steep for the first hour, then it levels out as you walk alongside the cliffs, snow-capped peaks in the distance.
You can summit a small hill behind the teahouses to help acclimatise – it is cold and windy in the afternoon.
DAY 8 – Macchermo to Gokyo
Walking time: 4hrs Difficulty: Medium Elevation: 4759m Accommodation: Teahouse
Today you get to see 3 of the lakes of the Gokyo region today, all very impressive and scenic! You will want to stop to take some photos when in this area, just don’t stop for long as it does get very cold. There is one short steps section today, then it’s a gradual incline for the rest of the trek (“Nepali Flat”).
We stayed in the same teahouse for two nights, and it was very cold!! Would also highly recommend visiting the viewpoint at the glacier, 5-10mins walk behind Gokyo.
DAY 9 – Gokyo Ri
Walking time: 3-4hrs Difficulty: Hard Elevation: 5483m Accommodation: Teahouse
Don’t be mistake, today is very hard! The hill to Gokyo Ri is extremely steep up and down. I would recommend poles for this section. It took me about 2.5hrs to get up, but the altitude becomes really apparent, so your steps are shorter and breathes are deeper.
This was a challenge, but well worth it for the views you get at the top. This is said to be the best view available in the Everest Region and on the Everest Circuit. I would strongly agree, it is beautiful! You can see majority of the 8000m peaks from here, as well as the glacier and lakes.
DAY 10 – Gokyo to Thangnak
Walking time: 2hrs Difficulty: Medium Elevation: 4800m Accommodation: Teahouse
Today you will cross the Ngozumpa Glacier, this is a technical section. Getting down into the glacier was the sketchiest part of the entire Everest Circuit. I needed help from 2 guides and I’m not ashamed to say it, it was steep, slippery and had massive drop offs. One wrong foot and you’d go skidding.
Once inside the glacier it is a lot of rock scrambling with steep ascents. The ground is all unlevel as well. It is beautiful scenery though, kind of what I think walking on the moon would look like. It is a steep ascent out the glacier, but nowhere near as bad as going in.
DAY 11 – Thangnak – Cho La Pass – Dzongla
Walking time: 6-7hrs Difficulty: Very Hard Elevation: 5420m (Cho La Pass) Accommodation: Teahouse
This was the hardest hiking day of my entire life (so far). You will start very early morning when it is so cold your eyelashes will freeze (4-5am). The first part of the day is walking to the start of the Cho La Pass, which is one of the 3 high passes in the region. It is gradual gradient all the way up to the start, where you will then descent.
Getting to the top of the Cho La Pass was harder than Kilimanjaro. It is very steep, requires the use of a chain, large step ups and is almost rock scrambling. It is very scenic and a beautiful feeling reaching the top, but you are in for some work.
The next part, heading down for the Cho La Pass requires the use of crampons over the glacier. This did make us forget about all the pain that we just put ourselves through as it was bringing joy to our inner child. This section is about 20mins, then it’s a slight descent to Dzongla.
Today is an easy day again, which is very much needed after yesterday. It is mainly Nepali Flat, so it isn’t strenuous. This is where the Everest Circuit joins with the Everest Base Camp route.
Crossing the Khumbu Glacier is the first section of today’s hike. This section does have a lot of foot traffic, so this will make a difference in how long it takes you to cross. It is not as technical as the glacier near Gokyo. You have beautiful views the whole way today and get to tick of base camp!
I found this day hard and put it down to the altitude and not having Diamox. The air is rather thin and cold up there. It took us 2 hours to get to Gorak Shep, where we had lunch then about 2 hrs to get to base camp. Base camp is a great achievement; however, it is just a graffitied rock. It isn’t the best place on the Everest Circuit. You will get some photos and head back.
Leaving around 5am, you will start the hike up to Kala Pattar – a viewpoint, giving clear views of Everest. This isn’t the nicest viewpoint of the trek, but it’s worth doing if you want to see Everest up close. The hike up is steep and very cold, so make sure to wear plenty of layers.
After Kala Pattar, you have completed majority of the uphill – you start heading down for here.
DAY 15 + – Dingboche to Lukla
Walking time: 5-6hrs Difficulty: Medium Accommodation: Tents
I have linked day 15, 16 and 17 today as you follow the same route you took heading up. Dingboche to Kyangjuma, Kyangjuma to Ghat, Ghat to Lukla. Most of the time during these next few days, you will have your head down, watching your feet. You aren’t focused on much but not tripping over as you make a quick descent back to Lukla.
Some people found these the hardest days as they felt very rushes and were very long.
Conclusion and Tips
The Everest Region is a beautiful region which I highly recommend you visit, and I recommend the circuit as it has some of the best views I have ever seen on a hike! However, it is not for the faint hearted or for people who are not fit. It’s extremely strenuous both mentally and physically.
This is a high-altitude hike – it also means you are in high altitude for a very long time.
It is strenuous – you need to be fit or have some fitness for this hike.
Bring good footwear, and make sure to wear them in
Hiking poles will be your best friend.
Leave the water bladder at home, its handy but it freezes.
Make sure to bring plenty of layers!
Do your shopping in Namche, it’s very expensive after this ($5 for a snickers!).
Bring plenty of hand sanitiser and toilet paper – the bathrooms at the higher teahouses are disgusting.
Take Diamox as a preventive and treatment – handy to have on you.
Sealy Tarns Is the second most popular day hike in Mt Cook National Park. Mt Cook National Park is a hikers dream, and has some of the best day hikes in all of New Zealand (in my opinion anyways).
The Sealy Tarns track takes you up the side of the Sealey Range, offering impressive views from the top of Mt Cook and the surrounding lakes. This short hike is one you need to add to your New Zealand bucket list!
Where is it?
The Sealy Tarns track is a 3-4 hr return track, located in Mt Cook National Park. Roughly a 3hr drive from Queenstown or 4hr drive from Christchurch. The track starts at either the White Horse Hills campsite or the same carpark as the Hooker Valley Trail. The hike leads off the Kea Point hike, which is a much easier hike in the region.
The Hike
I wish someone told me this before I commenced this hike, but it is essentially all steps up to the tarns. There is one small section where you will be walking on a slight ascent up a dirt path. Once you reach the bench, it is all steps. I also recently learnt that this hike is sometimes nicknamed the “stairway to heaven”.
The steps aren’t all the same size and height. I believe there are roughly 2000 steps to get up to the tarns, with an elevation of 600m (1,969ft). This is the same route you will take to hike to the Muller Hut, which is an excellent day or overnight hike.
Once on top of the tarns you will be rewarded with spectacular views. On a clear day you will even see Mt Cook, New Zealand’s tallest mountain! The Sealey Tarns also reflects the surrounding mountains on a clear day, making for some great photos.
There is a picnic table at the top, so this would be a great place to stop and have some lunch, before heading back down.
How hard is it?
As someone who absolutely hates steps on a hike, this hike wasn’t too bad. I would like you to keep in mind I was hiking anywhere between 10-15km each day I was in New Zealand! If you have a reasonable amount of fitness, you will find this hike exhausting, but overall it shouldn’t be too hard.
If you don’t have a lot of fitness, this hike is going to be tough for you. There are no rest points on the hike, so if you need to take a break, move off the path as much as possible to give way to other hikers.
I hiked this track twice (by accident), the first time it took me 1.5hrs to get to the tarns, the second time it took 1 hour.
Hiking in Winter
During winter the ridge at the top of the track can be completely covered in snow, making it slippery. The stairs don’t typically collect a lot of snow, but they can still collect a small amount.
The biggest concern hiking this track in winter is avalanches. If you are not properly equipped or have avalanche training, maybe give this one a miss in winter.
Snow in December?
Hiking in Summer
There is little to no protection from the sun on this trail in summer. So, make sure you bring plenty of water, hat and sunscreen with you! It can still get chilly at the tarns, so bringing a jacket would be wise.
My Thoughts
This hike is an incredible day hike to do while in the National Park! Even though the first (And second) time climbing up those steps was exhausting, the views at the top definitely make it worthwhile.
Hike early in the morning, the hike gets busy in the afternoon from day visitors
Bring at least 1L of water with you. You can get clean drinking water from the shelters at White Horse Hills campgrounds.
Pack a lunch, worth stopping to enjoy all those views you just worked for
There are no bathroom at the summit, so make sure you do your business before leaving the carpark