Bus Tour - Taupo Take 3 [Tongariro Crossing]

Very very very very early.



Yes the moon is still out at 5:40 am.



1 hour bus ride .... excellent, must sleep.







Here we go.













That wasn't do bad.



Soda Springs.... done and done.





The hill before the "Devil's staircase"















Yes we are over 15000 ft above sea level and there is ice crystals just under the first layer of dirt.





After 1 hour and a half of constant incline of evil know as the "devil's staircase" we made it to the South Crater.





It's a bit chilly.





Well hello Mount Doom....how you doin?















Yes, these Volcanoes we are on are still active.





So active that the ground was steaming in some areas.





Red Crater



Emerald Lakes



I thought these lakes would be uber hot but turns out because we are so high up they are freezing cold.



Climbing down this hill was really fun. there was about half a foot of loose rubble, so going down it was like skiing. Go down one angle then switch...so on and so forth. I fell 3 times :D



The steamy areas where pretty but smelt like sulfur. Definitely not the place to stop for lunch.







Hard not to resist.







Blue Lake











I can't believe I was still alive here.













This is the hut we chilled at for lunch.



I look a little hysterical here. I think it might of been the thin air or the endorphins kicking in.





















Almost there :D