We've ventured out from the cosy confines of the Cambridge house and have come on a mini break to the Tongariro National Park, which is just south of Lake Taupo. It was a fairly uneventful drive (I was asleep for most of it), but we did pass through a wacky little town with lots of fun corrigated iron buildings - see pics.
We stopped for a break at a view point over Lake Taupo. The scenery was starting to change and soon after we got our first glimpse of a volcano! We were somewhat surprised to see it still covered in snow but soon realised that it was not the peak that we'd come to climb. Which was a slight relief as we only have 'summer' alpine kit with us.
We're having our first taste of 'freedom camping' as it is known here. (Wild camping to us). It's free to stay here and the facilities include some flat grassy ground and a drop toilet. There is a good view of a smoking volcano behind us and a full moon just rising into the clear sky, so we are both very happy. Just cooked up on our new stove, with a sauce pan and bowl borrowed from the house. Tomorrow we are hoping to compete a crossing of the National Park, which is said to be one of the finest alpine walks in New Zealand. We've booked a shuttle bus to take us to the far side of the mountains at 6am tomorrow, then we'll make our way back to the car during the course of the day. Bed now...
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