2016
Steps on Rangitoto Island to the volcanic summit.
View of the rest of the island.
Lava caves on Rangitoto Island.
Lava caves on Rangitoto Island.
Boiling mud at a geothermal area outside of Rotoura.
Giant geothermal mud pool at Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland.
Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland.
The hike is built through a large geothermal area with tons of different features.
Mineral layers left behind by evaporated water.
More Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland.
Sulfur caves.
Another large geothermal cauldron.
Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland.
One of the newest active geothermal areas in the world. Was created during a large eruption in the late 1800's. Waimangu Volcanic Valley.
Waimangu Volcanic Valley.
Waimangu Volcanic Valley.
Inferno Crater. The water level rises and falls at a steady cycle.
View of Lake Rotomahana.
Waimangu Volcanic Valley.
Wildlife in Lake Rotmahana.
Hike to Huka Falls along the Waikato River.
These are the rapids leading up to Huka Falls. Didn't really get a good picture of the actual waterfall, but it was pretty underwhelming.
Mount Ngauruhoe in the center and Tongariro on the left.
Iron rich stream along the Tongariro Alpine Crossing.
Soda Springs along the Tongariro Alpine Crossing.
Looking at Mount Tanaka (far distance) from the Tongariro Alpine Crossing.
You could summit Mount Ngauruhoe, but I didn't have a enough time. More of a mad scramble than a hike.
View of Mount Tongariro across the south crater.
Mount Ngauruhoe that inspired Mount Doom in Lord of the Rings.
Trail out of the South Crater along the Tongariro Alpine Crossing.
View of Blue Lake along the Tongariro Alpine Crossing.
View of all three active volcanoes. Ngauruhoe on the left, Ruapehu in the center, and Tongariro in the foreground on the right.
Summit of Mount Ngauruhoe.
Traverse along the summit of Mount Tongariro.
Red Crater.
Trail ascending above Red Crater.
Heading down towards Emerald Lakes.
Two of the Emerald Lakes.
View of Mount Ngauruhoe and Red Crater from across Central Crater.
Tongariro Alpine Crossing passes through a golden alpine meadow on the way down.
Low clouds over the meadow.
Meadow trail.
Stream crossing through the meadow.
The Tongariro Alpine Crossing finished in the New Zealand bush.
Hills stretching out behind Nelson.
Stream flowing through Abel Tasman National Park.
Cove in Abel Tasman National Park.
Kiwi!
Climbing through the hills in Able Tasman National Park.
More bays along the trail in Able Tasman National Park.
Wetlands at the terminus of the hike.
Pancake Rocks in Paparoa National Park.
Pancake Rocks in Paparoa National Park.
Pancake Rocks in Paparoa National Park.
Coastal birds.
Lazy seals.
Seals along the shore.
View back into town from a bluff over the ocean.
Kaikoura, New Zealand shoreline.
