For this part of the trip, Sue and Joe Murphy made the journey across the Pacific. We started the trip by jumping out a plane in Taupo and then visited Tongariro National Park
We did the famed Tongariro Crossing hike which goes between Tongariro and Ngauruhoe (seen here). You hike a straighTline or so through the park and then meet a bus at the end to take you back. It was pretty impressive. Some have called the best one-day hike in the world. I'd like to do a lot more sampling before I agree, but it is a contender!
Here Sue climbs up the first saddle
Joe and Nguuruhoe
Winding trail to the next crossing
The scale on these volcano hikes is what is so amazing. Who knows how big that gash really is in the side of the crater
Heading down towards the Emerald Lakes
Emerald Lake
Looking back to the Emerald Lake
Somewhere between Taupo and Rotorua
If one visits Rotorua, a center of Maori culture, a touristized-version of a hangi (a Maori pit oven feast) is essential. It was a little contrived but pretty cool-- the food was great and the dancing neat
A visit to the thermally active Rotorua
Rotorua
The bushy one