A long hike!

The Emerald Lakes.
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So, after a great Mauroi cultural experience, a show with a 6 course meal, and a night hike through the woods, we left for Taupo. The stop in Taupo was short, arriving around 6pm, and leaving at 7am, just enough time to do some laundry. Taupo is on the shore of Lake Taupo, the largest lake in the southern hemisphere, and a giantic volcanic crator. We left early from Taupo to head to National Park.  Hope of the northern most ski area in NZ. About a 2 hour drive around the lake brought us to the base of the Tarangoni Crossing.  A 7 hour trek over a pass, and past the base of Mnt. Doom! Against all of our guides suggestions (due to really bad weather), 6 of us persisted and left on the hike.  Leaving in the rain, and strong winds, we started off. After about 30 minutes the rain stopped and the winds died down. After an hour, the sun started to appear. We hiked up 500 meters to red crater, and then another 300 meters to the summit of the pass. We saw the emerald lakes at an altitude of 1600 meters above sea level, and a great view of lake Taupo, almost 150 km's away! The hike took us 6.5 hours, we trekked 18kms and an elivation change of +800 meters, then -1000 meters. A night in National Park was well deserved, a great steak, a few beers, and I slept 11 hours! We then headed for an express trip to Wellington where I met up with my parents, and the lifford gang. Last night we went to the first wine event, 5 ordinary pinot noirs, and 8 great chefs cooking up really interesting New Zealand food. Today we went to the museum, and another wine dinner tonight! The weather has been excellent, sunny and warm.

1.5 hours to Mt. Doom, unfortunately in the wrong direction, and in a cloud!
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I hope all is well back home!

Miss you all, Andrew