Tongariro

On Friday we set off in the car for Tongariro National Park about 4 hours drive north of Wellington. Stopped for food along the way. Unfortunately the DC3 cafe in Mangaweka was closed!:

We stayed the night at the Whakapapa Holiday Camp and joined the throngs the next morning heading for the 17km Tongariro Crossing - one of NZ's most popular walks. Early on the cloud raced in to catch us:


But it soon receded. Here in the south crater we made the two hour (90 mins up but only 25 down!) side trip to the summit of Mt Ngauruhoe (na ra hoe ay). At 2291m it is a climb of over a 1000m from the start of the walk:

From the volcanic scree slopes there were fantastic views over the south crater to Tongariro itself (1967m) and the Blue Lake:


Ngauruhoe is the mountain which featured as Mt Doom in the Lord of the Rings. "Oh no Mr Frodo sir, I've lost the ring!":


Looking east over the volcanic landscape (it's been quiet here for 15 years):

The Red Crater and beyond:


The Emerald Lakes, the colour comes from minerals leaching down from the Red Crater:

Snow on Mt Ruapehu. The 2797m peak was visible from Taranaki 80 miles away (and vice versa today). Ngauruhoe in the middle with the Red Crater in front and the ridge path to the right leading down past the Emerald Lakes to the central crater:


The final leg of the crossing descends past the Ketetahi Springs with views over Lakes Rotoaira and Taupo:

I can tell you it was an early night after that walk! We managed it in 8 hours.
Drove back to Wellington the next day in time to see the Phoenix in a dramatic penalty shoot out win over Perth in the soccer league play-offs first round.
Tomorrow I fly to Stewart island in the very south of the country. I will be away 3 weeks but hope to make some posts as I go.