Wouldn’t it be cool if you could walk through a wardrobe, see Aslan, and enter Narnia? Well, what if I told you you could? We made The Crossing Backpackers our home base for Tongariro National Park, and discovered that they learned the secret into Narnia! Take a look:

Yes, the wardrobe actually leads into a secret room. Isn’t that awesome? From the outside, it looks like your everyday wardrobe in their spacious TV and game room, and yet it leads to something fantastic.

That’s not the only quirky aspect of The Crossing Backpackers. What if I told you they had Gandalf’s backup staff? 

Or a giant table made specifically for Lord of the Rings? It’s true you know…

For most, the only reason for venturing into National Park is to complete the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, or some other outdoorsy activity. It only makes sense that The Crossing Backpackers would incorporate this theme into the construction of the property itself; the walls are made of painted plywood, while the steps and support columns are made of actual tree trunks.

In a place full of surprises, I would only expect that Bryan, the owner, would be able to send us to one of the most underrated spots in Tongariro National Park: Mead’s Wall. On his recommendation, we drove toward Whakapapa Ski Field. Not only will you find New Zealand’s highest café, but you will also be at the start of a fifteen minute walk to Mead’s Wall. Tread carefully, up and over the wall, for outstanding views of Mt. Doom. Thankfully, we had a clear day!

If you’re journeying into National Park, be sure not to miss out on Mead’s Wall and the peculiarities within The Crossing Backpackers. Say hi to Bryan for me!

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**Special thanks to Bryan, The Crossing Backpackers, and Air New Zealand for sponsoring our journey. As always, all opinions are my own. Photographs taken by David M Gallo Photography.