The final days in New Zealand I used for the famous Tangariro-Crossing-Trail. More exactly I've done a circle walk around Mount Ngauruhoe beginning at the Wakapapa village. From where I headed for the Waihohonu hut and slept there over night. I started quit late. So it was darkening then I reached the hut. Next day was tough for man and material. After passing the Oturere hut the sky opened its doors and it was raining till the evening. When I reached the Ketetahi hut I was wet till the bones and I think I had a small hypothermia. So I was lying in my (as well wet) sleeping bag when the sun came out for the last call. Till then my photo was doing nothing. But the next day was tough work for him. Let's give You some impressions of a wonderful Tongariro-Crossing.

Good morning!



The private hot springs belonging to some Maoris. Seems they are somehow sacred.



The view from Ketetahi hut



Ready for the crossing



A very young lava flow in front of the Red Crater



The active Red Crater



Some clouds were still present when I reached the summit of the Red Crater. This was not really bad because the clouds give the panorama something spectacular.



The famous Tongariro Crossing normally packed with day-hikers



Some bagpacks waiting



Within some minutes Mount Tongariro can be reached from Red Crater



The toughest work this day: Mount Ngauruhoe



After one hour I had a perfect view over the Crossing





Again some clouds and some other visitors



The crater of the sometimes active volcano



In the evening I stopped at the Mangatepopo hut. There the sunset let Mount Ngauruhoe glow. Some effect I saw first in Chile.



Next day I headed back for Wakapapa village. The trail between is not easy but very beautiful. In the distance Mount Taranaki was visible. It is always impressive to see this huge mountain in a more or less totally flat surrounding.