Te Puia

We're in Rotorua which is the centre of Maori New Zealand. Te Puia is a huge Maori cultural centre and we learn a lot here. We visit traditional carving & weaving centres where we learn how to make the traditonal flax skirts in the first picture and most impostantly we learn how to do the 'hongi' the Maori greeting where two people press their noses & foreheads together twice.

Craters of the Moon

The North Isalnd of New Zealand is full of volcanic activity and there are lots thermal areas where the ground is hot to sit on & steam escapes from every crevice. 'Craters of the Moon' is one of these. It also has a huge thermal mud pool & the giant steaming craters of its name.

Huka Falls

This is Huka Falls. The power with which the water gushes down towards the falls is breathtaking. You really wouldn't want to be kayaking out there.

The Crossing : The Easy Bit

After this, there is the Blue lake, views out to Lake Taupo and the sulphurous gas from the the Ketetahi springs as well as some podocarp forest. Finally there are pics of Mt Ngauruhoe and Mt Rauapehu that I took when back at the YHA.

Mount Tongariro & Emerald Lakes

Once back on the crossing after the three hour mountain detour we had to get a move on to get back to the bus, so we raced past these red rocks (I think they may be called Red crater), the gentler climb to the summit of Mt Tongariro and the emerald lakes.

Summit & Crater

Here are some views across the summit, down into the crater and the final one is of the descent. This was accomplished largely on my posterior sliding down on the snow where possible and on the scree where not.

Mount Ngauruhoe

As you can see I wasn't phased by a 17 km stroll the day before so decided to spice up the crossing with a side trip up Mt Ngauruhoe. When choosing a climbing companion it helps to choose someone who is fresh out of military service and has spent the last six weeks on NZ's numerous multi-day walks. This is Aviad, he set the pace and I struggled to keep up. The steep climb was largely up scree and over rocks to the 2287 metre summit. I'm not sure if it was technically a difficult climb but it was tiring.