These pictures were taken in or around Tongariro and Taupo on the weekend of
October 1, 2005.
At
the road where we came in to Tongariro Park. You can see the mountains
in the background.
Along
the trail in Tongariro Park...
Most
of my pics from the trail came out way too dark, but I knew you would
want to see the scary trees...
There
were several small beaches along the trail.
Those
faint tufts of smoke you see on the mountain are geothermal hot spots.
After the hike, we drove to some hot pools for a swim :)
This was just around the corner from where we were staying. We could
walk to Lake Taupo and see the mountains from there.
Behold, Lake Taupo :) You can see my shadow reflected in the water.
Taupo is sort of the face of tourism in the area, but there are several
towns around the lake. We were staying in one called Kuratau.
A more conventional view of Lake Taupo :)
We
stopped in the town of Taupo itself on the way home for a view of Huka
Falls, a rather impressive river of rapids that culminates in a
waterfall. A tree was blocking the best views of the waterfall part
itself, so I found the rapids much more photogenic.
Another view of the rapids...
...and
the waterfall part, complete with the tree in the way :) Note to NZ
Tourism people: you need to trim some branches out there...
At
the road where we came in to Tongariro Park. You can see the mountains
in the background.
Along
the trail in Tongariro Park...
Most
of my pics from the trail came out way too dark, but I knew you would
want to see the scary trees...
There
were several small beaches along the trail. 
Those
faint tufts of smoke you see on the mountain are geothermal hot spots.
After the hike, we drove to some hot pools for a swim :)
This was just around the corner from where we were staying. We could
walk to Lake Taupo and see the mountains from there.
Behold, Lake Taupo :) You can see my shadow reflected in the water.
Taupo is sort of the face of tourism in the area, but there are several
towns around the lake. We were staying in one called Kuratau.
A more conventional view of Lake Taupo :)
We
stopped in the town of Taupo itself on the way home for a view of Huka
Falls, a rather impressive river of rapids that culminates in a
waterfall. A tree was blocking the best views of the waterfall part
itself, so I found the rapids much more photogenic.
Another view of the rapids...
...and
the waterfall part, complete with the tree in the way :) Note to NZ
Tourism people: you need to trim some branches out there...