Hello, my turn to write this extreme account of our New Zealand adventures, and this entry is pritty extra special.
Rhys and Tara, the lovely couple who suggested we should head to Hawkes bay for a wine tasting day and stay in Clive caravan site, had invited us to National Park village, where they lived, to sample the many walks around Tongariro, Mt Ngauruhoe( Mt Doom) and Mt Ruapehu. Also to see many famous 'Lord Of The Rings' scenes that were filmed there.
After leaving Hastings and climbing to the top of Te Mata peak in Havelock North, we drove back over to Taupo. Bi-passing the town we headed south to Witness Mt Tongariro that is now venting steam and smoke from the north side of the mountain (pretty spectacular!) Then we drove on to National Park and enjoyed an evening there with Rhys and Tara and camped outside their house. Whilst we were talking they both suggested we should book on to canoe down the river Whanganui that they had done a few weeks previous and had ticked it off their bucket list of things to do around National Park. National Park being home to the Famous Tongariro Crossing, with great views of Mt Doom and Tongariro, unfortunately due to the eruptions half the walk was closed and Debbie's ankle still giving her jip. So we explored shorter walks and Lord of the Rings film spots on Mt Ruapehu, finding both Tara and Rhys on the mountain at work. Tara works for DOC and Rhys is a ski tuner for the hire centre on the mountain. After pestering them I went for a run to a waterfall and Debbie a shorter walk nearer by Whakapapa.