2. 2016

New Zealand in December

Shortly after flying about 30 hours from the far side of the world, to help me recover from jet lag Jasmijn took me on the Tongariro Crossing - one of the world's best one-day hikes - which crosses a series of volcanoes in the centre of New Zealand's North Island
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  • The trail is normally 20km (further, in our case, to the car), starting around 1,100 m, rising to a maximum of 1,886 m, and descending to around 800m

    The trail is normally 20km (further, in our case, to the car), starting around 1,100 m, rising to a maximum of 1,886 m, and descending to around 800m

    0 Tongariro Crossing

  • It starts with amazing views of Mt Ruapehu (2,797m) - the main winter ski fields of the N Island, 5 hrs drive N of Wellington

    It starts with amazing views of Mt Ruapehu (2,797m) - the main winter ski fields of the N Island, 5 hrs drive N of Wellington

    1 Mt Ruapehu

  • Lord of the Rings was filmed here. These hidden gullies are reminiscent of those in which Sam and Frodo sheltered en route into Mordor

    Lord of the Rings was filmed here. These hidden gullies are reminiscent of those in which Sam and Frodo sheltered en route into Mordor

    3 Soda Springs trail 2

  • 2 Soda Springs trail 1

    2 Soda Springs trail 1

  • Fairly soon the landscape becomes seriously volcanic, from which lava spires eerily arise

    Fairly soon the landscape becomes seriously volcanic, from which lava spires eerily arise

    4 Lava

  • Vast, wasted fields of ash and lava prohibit any green or living thing, it seems. The lands of Mordor, indeed.

    Vast, wasted fields of ash and lava prohibit any green or living thing, it seems. The lands of Mordor, indeed.

    10 Beyond S Crater AK

  • More lava spires

    More lava spires

    11 Beyond S Crater JdeB

  • The South Crater is at 1,660 m

    The South Crater is at 1,660 m

    9 S Crater AK

  • The trail passes beneath Mt Ngauruhoe - Mt Doom in Lord of the Rings. The summit is 2,291 m and a very steep side trip is possible for the brave or those who need to destroy any rings

    The trail passes beneath Mt Ngauruhoe - Mt Doom in Lord of the Rings. The summit is 2,291 m and a very steep side trip is possible for the brave or those who need to destroy any rings

    14 Mt Ngauruhoe

  • Red Crater and Mt Ngauruhoe (Mt Doom) beyond

    Red Crater and Mt Ngauruhoe (Mt Doom) beyond

    30 Beyond Red Crater

  • At 1,886 m the Red Crater is the high point of the trek

    At 1,886 m the Red Crater is the high point of the trek

    19 Red Crater rim 3

  • Red Crater and Blue Lake beyond

    Red Crater and Blue Lake beyond

    16 Red Crater

  • 23 Red Crater rim 5

    23 Red Crater rim 5

  • 22 Red Crater rim 4

    22 Red Crater rim 4

  • 24 Red Crater rim JdeB

    24 Red Crater rim JdeB

  • A giant and mysterious vent issues forth from the inner side of the Red Crater. Whom knows what volcanic compounds once flowed from it.

    A giant and mysterious vent issues forth from the inner side of the Red Crater. Whom knows what volcanic compounds once flowed from it.

    25 Red Crater vent

  • The landscape is littered with mysterious, coloured, melted stones, reminiscent of dragon fire damage

    The landscape is littered with mysterious, coloured, melted stones, reminiscent of dragon fire damage

    27 Red Crater blue stone

  • It is possible to pick some quite dangerous routes and to go seriously astray

    It is possible to pick some quite dangerous routes and to go seriously astray

    28 Red Crater scree slope

  • From the Red Crater the path leads down toward Emerald Lakes

    From the Red Crater the path leads down toward Emerald Lakes

    33 Emerald Lakes path

  • The lakes appear beautiful but (i) are probably full of sulphuric acid, due to all the sulphur vents, and (ii) are sacred to the Maoris - hence they are not to be touched

    The lakes appear beautiful but (i) are probably full of sulphuric acid, due to all the sulphur vents, and (ii) are sacred to the Maoris - hence they are not to be touched

    39 Emerald Lakes

  • The trail leads through sulphurous gasses issuing from the vents of these not-so-dormant volcanoes

    The trail leads through sulphurous gasses issuing from the vents of these not-so-dormant volcanoes

    35 Emerald Lakes sulfur 2

  • Christmas festivities in the sulphur gasses

    Christmas festivities in the sulphur gasses

    38 Emerald Lakes sulfur AK & JdeB

  • Next, pockets of snow remain here in the vast Central Crater in late summer

    Next, pockets of snow remain here in the vast Central Crater in late summer

    40 Central Crater

  • Finally, the long descent to the Ketetahi Shelter yields great views of Lakes Rotoaira and Taupo, beyond

    Finally, the long descent to the Ketetahi Shelter yields great views of Lakes Rotoaira and Taupo, beyond

    41 Descent to Ketetahi Shelter

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    Vast, wasted fields of ash and lava prohibit any green or living thing, it seems. The lands of Mordor, indeed.
    More lava spires
    The South Crater is at 1,660 m