Happy birthday Heinz!

The drive to Tongariro National Park lead on a stunning costal route along Lake Taupo and then into alpine heights. The park is home to three major active volcanoes:

• Mount Ruapehu – the largest and most active volcano in the park, known for its ski fields and Crater Lake

• Mount Ngauruhoe – a conical volcano, often recognized as Mount Doom from The Lord of the Rings films

• Mount Tongariro – the oldest of the three, featuring multiple craters and volcanic vents.

All New Zealand guides promise a spectacular view of these three here. I have yet to get a glimpse of any of them, for some low hanging clouds thwarted that endeavour. At the time they were white, which reminded me of how Māori refer to New Zealand in their own language: Ao-tea-roa, often translated as ‘the land of the long white cloud’. That was what was shrouding the volcanoes now!

The white turned quickly to grey and soon the rain swept in.