Mr & Mrs Thomas visit Mt Doom

Well I think we have just climbed to one of the most beautiful places in the world. We did the Tongariro crossing which goes between 3 active volcanoes near Lake Taupo, a MUST for anyone visiting.
The 6+ hr walk starts as you walk in over tundra type vegetation. you can see Mt Ruapehu in snow on the right this is where the ski fields are, then Mt Narahui in the middle looking like a volcano! and on the left is Mt Tongariro. The walk goes over the sholder between Narahui and Tongoriro

As you walk closer the lava fields become more obvious, the pumice and lava sculptures are amazing, it really does feel like Lord of the Rings country. There is even a 'loo with a view'!! Narahui last erupted in 1975 but most of the lava flows are from the 1950's (not very long ago in geological time!!)

 

The real climbing starts and you get to the north crater, where the frost was melting but we were getting to the snow line. It was a bit slippy on the snow and some folk only had trainers on, I was glad to have my pole for balance. (To climb the main volcano you need hard hats as there are often rock falls - I'll leave that one to Malcolm and his 'bumbler' friends I think!)





At the top the view was AMAZING. first of all you see the red crater with a strange chimney formation looking back to the volcano. then you look over towards the emerald and blue lakes. We sat and had lunch at this point and realised that although we were in the snow the ground was warm because of steam coming up through the ground!

The walk down the other side was slower and more gentle through grassland and lower forest but we did pass the only active steaming vent we saw. This one erupted in 2012 and destroyed one of the huts where you can stay, so it is only a day hut now!!

 

And saving the best till last we went to have afternoon tea at the iconic Chateau Hotel just down from the ski fields below Mr Ruapehu (the volcano on the right in the first photo). The view from the window whilst drinking flat white and eating superb scones jam and cream was great after a hard but stunning days walk.

Heaven?